Two separate rating criteria will apply to access-controlled expressways and designated high-speed corridors on one side, and normal national highways on the other. The initiative is linked to the ministry’s revision of contractual provisions for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, which is intended to increase accountability for deficiencies and accident-prone locations. The ministry has also started rating highway contractors internally and linking some financial obligations to their performance.
The proposed corridor rating framework will cover three categories: Highway Efficiency, Highway Safety and User Experience. Efficiency will be assessed using peak congestion, calculated as the ratio of the maximum peak-hour traffic recorded over five consecutive days during the peak season to the hourly design capacity, along with the level of service across the stretch. The condition of the road will receive the highest weightage and will be measured through the pavement condition index (PCI), evaluated using a network survey vehicle (NSV).
The framework will also consider the availability of wayside amenities, toll plaza ratings and the presence of Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS). Safety parameters will include the annual frequency of accidents per 10 kilometres, project failures that result in closures, the number of fatalities and accident severity. The ministry has faced criticism over the condition of highways, while Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently indicated that complaints help officials address errors by responsible contractors and authorities.