NHAI Issues New Guidelines for Cleaner Toilets, Safer Parking and Smart Monitoring at Highway Toll Plazas

NHAI has introduced new guidelines to improve toilet facilities and parking areas at National Highway toll plazas through smart monitoring, regular inspections, accessibility measures and stricter accountability.

NHAI Introduces New Guidelines for Toilet Facilities and Parking Areas at National Highway Toll Plazas

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced guidelines to improve the maintenance, safety and accessibility of public toilet facilities and designated parking areas at National Highway toll plazas. The initiative aims to provide cleaner, safer and more reliable amenities for motorists and other highway users.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the guidelines establish standards for upgrading existing infrastructure, maintaining hygiene, adopting technology-enabled monitoring systems and improving accountability among maintenance agencies.

Comprehensive Upgradation and Maintenance of Toilet Facilities

Under the new guidelines, existing toilet facilities at covered toll plazas will undergo technical assessments before renovation or rehabilitation. These evaluations will help authorities identify damaged infrastructure, necessary repairs and components that require replacement.

The upgradation process will cover essential facilities, including flooring, plumbing systems, sanitary fittings, lighting, ventilation, drainage and signboards. The objective is to ensure that public toilets remain functional, hygienic and suitable for regular use.

NHAI has also emphasised the importance of systematic housekeeping. Cleaning schedules and staffing arrangements will be determined according to the size of toilet facilities and the volume of traffic at individual toll plazas.

These measures are intended to ensure consistent cleanliness and the availability of essential amenities throughout the day.

Greater Focus on Safety and Accessibility

The guidelines introduce measures to improve safety for women, families and other travellers using highway amenities, particularly during night-time journeys.

Toll plaza facilities will require adequate lighting, while CCTV surveillance will cover approaches and parking areas to improve security. Provisions also include sanitary napkin vending machines and clearly visible signs directing travellers towards available public amenities.

Accessible Toilets for Persons with Disabilities

To improve accessibility, every covered toll plaza will be required to provide at least one universally accessible toilet unit.

These facilities will include barrier-free access, appropriately designed doorways and grab bars to support persons with disabilities and individuals with limited mobility.

The requirements aim to make highway facilities more inclusive and convenient for a wider range of users.

Improvements to Parking Areas

The guidelines also address the condition and organisation of designated parking spaces. Planned improvements include clearly marked parking bays and proper drainage arrangements to make parking areas safer and more functional.

Infrastructure will also accommodate provisions for future electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities, supporting the gradual development of highway infrastructure for electric mobility.

Smart Technology to Monitor Toilet Conditions

Technology-enabled monitoring is a key component of NHAI’s plan to improve public amenities at toll plazas. Monitoring systems will track important operating conditions, including water availability, odour, sewage levels, leakage, electricity supply and toilet occupancy.

The systems will generate alerts for problems such as water shortages, sewage overflows and equipment failures. These alerts are expected to help maintenance teams identify issues quickly and take corrective action before conditions deteriorate.

Integration with NHAI’s Digital Platform

Information collected through smart monitoring systems will be integrated into NHAI’s central digital platform.

A centralised dashboard will allow officials to review the condition of facilities, maintenance activities, complaints and the performance of agencies responsible for upkeep.

This digital approach is intended to improve transparency, support timely interventions and help authorities identify recurring maintenance problems across toll plazas.

Citizen Feedback Through the Rajmargyatra App

The guidelines also provide highway users with digital channels to report problems and share suggestions regarding public amenities.

Travellers will be able to submit feedback through QR codes connected to the Rajmargyatra app and through touchscreens installed at toilet facilities.

Digitally recorded complaints will help officials monitor reported issues and track their resolution. Citizen feedback will also contribute to the assessment of maintenance quality and service standards.

By incorporating user experiences into the monitoring process, NHAI aims to make agencies more responsive to the needs of highway travellers.

Mechanised Cleaning and Strict Safety Requirements

The guidelines mandate fully mechanised methods for cleaning and desludging septic tanks, soak pits and sewer lines.

Manual entry into septic tanks, manholes and sewer lines will be strictly prohibited. This requirement is intended to prevent workers from being exposed to hazardous conditions associated with confined spaces, toxic gases and sanitation-related risks.

The emphasis on mechanised cleaning is expected to improve worker safety while supporting more systematic maintenance of sanitation infrastructure.

Performance-Based Accountability and Regular Inspections

NHAI has established a structured inspection and audit framework to ensure that prescribed standards are followed consistently.

The framework includes daily supervision, weekly technical inspections, monthly joint reviews, quarterly audits and annual third-party assessments.

Facility performance will be evaluated using physical inspections, smart-monitoring data and verified feedback from citizens. The guidelines also establish timelines for addressing reported problems and provide for financial penalties when maintenance standards are not met.

Agencies that repeatedly fail to comply with requirements may face stricter action. This performance-based approach is designed to encourage timely maintenance and ensure that service providers remain accountable for the condition of public amenities.

Conclusion

NHAI’s new guidelines seek to transform toilet facilities and parking areas at National Highway toll plazas through better infrastructure, improved accessibility, mechanised cleaning and technology-based monitoring. Regular inspections, digital citizen feedback and financial penalties will strengthen accountability among maintenance agencies. Together, these measures aim to provide highway users with cleaner, safer and more dependable public amenities while improving maintenance standards across the national highway network.