What it means
NHAI was set up under the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. It awards highway construction and operation contracts, collects user fees at national highway fee plazas, and sets technical standards for highway systems. Its project implementation units (PIUs) manage stretches on the ground.
How it applies in India
For traffic technology, two NHAI programmes matter most. First, NHAI's ATMS Standards and Specifications 2023 define the ATMS that new and upgraded corridors must have, including VIDES cameras every 10 km and command and control centres every 100 km. Second, NHAI runs toll collection with FASTag through IHMCL, and in 2026 began barrier-free MLFF tolling, starting at Chorayasi on NH-48 in Gujarat. Concessionaires and system integrators bidding NHAI work must meet these standards.