India considers extended trial runs on new highways before official opening

In response to emerging cracks, potholes and early failures on newly built highway stretches, the Indian government is exploring the option of conducting longer trial runs before official openings. The idea, raised during a review meeting of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway led by road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, would permit regular traffic for two to three months to uncover deficiencies after safety audits are completed.

Officials noted that extended trials have previously been applied to sections of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and the Dwarka Expressway tunnel, allowing settlement, rutting and drainage problems to be addressed before tolls begin. Contractors are required by contract to fix any defects during the defect-liability period, and Gadkari has urged NHAI, contractors and consultants to improve construction quality. Recent examples of rapid deterioration on the Lucknow-Kanpur and Dehradun expressways have led to toll suspensions or zero-toll calculations for affected stretches.