New Delhi: Highway projects passing through urban areas must include the expertise of urban and transport planners from the outset, experts emphasized at a conference on “Crash Safety and Physical Planning” held at IIT-Delhi on Friday.
Virendra Kumar Paul, Director of the School of Planning and Architecture, pointed out that highway engineers often lack the necessary skills to effectively evaluate detailed project reports (DPRs). “DPRs are a significant issue. We had trained some NHAI engineers at IIT-Delhi, and it became clear that they lack both the competence and the interest to engage deeply with the DPRs. Often, they delegate this task to external consultants, or it gets bogged down in bureaucratic procedures,” he said, speaking in the presence of Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways.
Highways passing through urban centers require special attention, experts noted, as these areas tend to have higher rates of fatal accidents due to the complex mix of road users.
Both SPA and IIT-Delhi offered to collaborate with the Ministry on pilot projects that would evaluate DPRs prepared for NHAI and other agencies. Additionally, the IIT leadership suggested establishing a Centre of Excellence focused on crash investigation.
During his address, Minister Ajay Tamta called for a shift in approach, advocating for a proactive, innovation-driven planning model. He emphasized that road projects should no longer be viewed as isolated engineering tasks but as part of a broader, multi-sectoral development strategy. “We need innovations that not only enhance safety but also address persistent issues such as land acquisition delays, urban traffic congestion, poor last-mile connectivity, and cost overruns,” he said.
