In 1998, the government of India launched the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) to upgrade key arteries of the national highways network and relieve the system’s chronic capacity constraints that had long been adversely affecting the economy. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided a series of loans to support the NHDP that was entrusted to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for implementation. The $400 million National Highway Sector II Project, approved in December 2004, was the fifth and last loan in the series.
The project supported the last stage of the NHAI’s institutional strengthening program and financed the upgrading of the national highway along the north–south corridor. Its anticipated impact was improved transport efficiency, leading to expanded economic opportunities. Its intended outcomes were a stronger NHAI and improved connectivity between the northern and the southern parts of the country. Its key components were (i) rehabilitation and widening of the Golden Quadrilateral, a 6,000−kilometer (km) highway network; and (ii) rehabilitation and widening of the 4,000−km north–south corridor and the 3,300−km east–west corridor.
Despite implementation delays, most of the planned outputs were completed. 567.03 km of national highways along the north–south corridor had been widened to 4 lanes and upgraded with substantial road furniture and safety facilities. Quality control was undertaken during construction and no significant defects or quality problems were reported during the defects liability period. The road safety zone concept was piloted and the pilot site in Andhra Pradesh provided with an advanced traffic management system, weighing platforms to control overloading, speed monitoring equipment, and ambulances and other relief vehicles. A safety audit and a study that identified the specific road safety equipment to be incorporated in the project were also undertaken. Conduct of the HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programs among construction workers, included in the scope of work of the contractors, was supported.
Successful delivery of the planned outputs enabled the project to achieve or surpass its outcome targets. Upon project completion, the percentage of 4-lane highways along the north–south corridor increased by more than 50%. Travel time was reduced by more than 50%. Vehicular speeds increased from 40 km per hour (kph) in 2004 to 80 kph for cars, and from 30 kph in 2004 to 50–60 kph for trucks. Vehicle operating costs declined by an average of 42%, in turn, reducing transport costs. Road safety had improved, with the carriageway now separated by a median and other road safety features installed by the project. However, due to an increase in vehicle speeds and traffic volumes, road accidents remain a significant concern. The project had strengthened connectivity to rural areas, brought about substantial socioeconomic benefits, and provided opportunities for further economic, industrial, and commercial development.
Executed by the NHAI, the project was rated successful by ADB’s South Asia Department. A project management unit initially supervised project implementation. Following NHAI reorganization in 2009, chief general managers deployed as regional officers took charge of state−level project supervision.
