The Union government has mandated highway development agencies to prepare detailed impact assessments and outcome reports for highway projects, particularly those under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase.

A circular from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was sent to chief secretaries of states and heads of various highway agencies, emphasizing the need for measurable socio-economic benefits from public investments.

MoRTH requires agencies to conduct surveys that assess the logistics impact of highway projects, focusing on overall logistics costs and travel efficiency.

Social impact assessments will evaluate improvements in connectivity to educational hubs for populations living near highways and enhance commuting options to workplaces, potentially affecting household income.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and regional offices are responsible for compiling and submitting data related to these assessments to MoRTH for annual evaluation.

MoRTH has outlined specific metrics to evaluate socio-economic benefits, including travel time reduction, fuel efficiency, expenditure reduction, riding comfort, and user satisfaction.

The assessment framework includes evaluating both direct and indirect impacts on macroeconomic indicators, connectivity to economic nodes within 25 km, and access to markets within 10 km of highway projects.

Environmental assessments will measure the effectiveness of road projects in reducing carbon emissions, improving fuel efficiency, and enhancing user experience.

Reports will assess economic, logistics, social, environmental impacts, road safety, and user experience as part of the outcome measurement.