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MoRTH Seeks States’ Feedback on Highway and Urban Mobility Policies
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently convened a State Consultation Conference on September 3rd, 2025, in New Delhi to seek inputs from state governments and union territories on a set of policy proposals aimed at improving highway infrastructure and urban mobility. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Key Policy Areas include:
- Urban Decongestion Policy: The proposed Urban Decongestion Policy aims to reduce traffic bottlenecks on National Highways (NHs) passing through cities with populations of over one lakh. Measures under consideration include the development of access-controlled ring roads, bypasses, and elevated corridors, as well as close integration with city master plans to prevent unplanned growth. The policy also contemplates flexible financing mechanisms such as state cost-sharing and Value Capture Financing.
- Use of Landfill Waste in Highway Construction: MoRTH is promoting the reuse of inert material from urban landfills in highway embankments to reduce reliance on natural soil and lower construction costs. Pilot projects in Delhi’s Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) and on the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway have validated this approach. Fifteen landfill sites, accounting for about half of India’s legacy waste, have been identified for integration with upcoming highway projects, with Memorandums of Understanding planned with municipal bodies.
- State Road Development Policy: The draft State Road Development Policy seeks to upgrade high-traffic state highways to four lanes or more. It proposes a cost-sharing model between the Centre and states and encourages Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to attract private investment and expedite project implementation.
- Legal and Procedural Reforms: MoRTH has also proposed amendments to the National Highways Act, 1956, aimed at simplifying land acquisition, improving compensation procedures, and strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms. In addition, the ministry is advocating stricter enforcement of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002, including delegation of enforcement powers to district magistrates to address encroachments more efficiently.
Presentations were made by MoRTH officials with inputs from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. State and Union Territory representatives participated in detailed consultation sessions, sharing regional priorities and operational challenges. MoRTH stated that suggestions received during the consultation will be considered before finalizing the policies, with the aim of ensuring they are practical, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of states and cities across the country.
Legal teams and policymakers at the state level should closely monitor the finalisation of these policies to prepare for procedural adjustments and potential litigation risks.
