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Experts from government agencies, state authorities, academia and the infrastructure sector convened in New Delhi during the past week to review draft policy guidelines aimed at incorporating climate adaptation into the planning, design, construction and maintenance of India's National Highway network. Organised under the HighCAP project by the National Institute of Disaster Management with support from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the workshop examined a policy framework intended to strengthen the resilience of highways against climate-related hazards. The draft is based on vulnerability assessments conducted across 30 study sites spanning nearly 2,000 km of national highways in diverse climatic and geographical regions. Feedback gathered during the consultation will be used to refine the policy before it is submitted for adoption, supporting the development of a safer and more climate-resilient road network.
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, organised a stakeholder workshop in New Delhi during the past week to deliberate on draft policy guidelines designed to integrate climate adaptation into the planning, design, construction and maintenance of India's National Highway network. Conducted with support from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the consultation sought expert feedback on the proposed framework before it is finalised and submitted for adoption.
The workshop formed part of the Development of National Highways Climate Adaptation Policy and Guidelines (HighCAP) initiative, which has been undertaken to strengthen the resilience of the country's highway infrastructure against the growing risks posed by climate change. According to the official statement, the exercise focused on reviewing and validating the draft policy framework and implementation guidelines prepared under the project to improve the long-term sustainability and operational reliability of India's National Highway network.
Officials noted that climate change is exposing transport infrastructure to increasingly frequent and severe hazards, including floods, landslides, storms, heatwaves and intense short-duration rainfall. These events are placing greater pressure on highway assets, highlighting the need to incorporate climate adaptation measures into every stage of highway development, from planning and engineering design to construction practices and ongoing maintenance. The draft policy has therefore been prepared to ensure that future highway projects are better equipped to withstand evolving climatic conditions while maintaining service continuity.
The recommendations are based on findings from the HighCAP project, which assessed climate vulnerability and disaster risks across 30 study locations covering around 2,000 km of National Highways. The study sites represented a range of climatic zones, hazard profiles and physiographic settings to capture varying environmental conditions across the country. Based on these assessments, the draft policy incorporates adaptation measures, Transport Emergency Management Plans (TEMP), Traffic Evacuation Plans (TEP), climate projections extending to 2090, and recommendations for updating relevant engineering codes and technical manuals.
The consultation brought together representatives from central ministries, state governments, disaster management authorities, highway agencies, technical institutions, academic organisations and consortium partners. Participants reviewed the proposed adaptation measures, resilience framework and implementation strategy while providing recommendations to improve their practicality and effectiveness. According to the official statement, the feedback received during the workshop will be used to refine the Climate Adaptation Policy and Guidelines before they are submitted for adoption, with the objective of supporting a sustainable, safe and climate-resilient National Highway network.
Source - PTI
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