New Delhi — As the skies prepare to weep generously over the Indian subcontinent, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided not to be caught off guard this monsoon. In what could be described as a mix of preparedness, tech-savviness, and good old Indian hustle, NHAI has launched a 15-day all-India monsoon readiness drive that’s wetter than a Bollywood rain dance sequence — but hopefully a lot safer.
From pothole-plagued carriageways to the high-drama diversions that flood at the first sign of rain, NHAI officials, contractors, and consultants are now donning their raincoats (and spreadsheets) to inspect critical stretches across the National Highway network. The mission? To stop waterlogging and landslides in their muddy tracks before they become breaking news on WhatsApp forwards.
Drainage systems, culverts, and rainwater harvesting pits are getting the long-overdue spa treatment — desilted, scrubbed, and cleared for action. And it’s not just the usual suspects. Even the often-overlooked RE wall weep holes are getting attention, perhaps for the first time since Independence.
But this isn’t just a broom-and-bucket affair. Emergency equipment like excavators, sandbags, and signage (hopefully not the “Oops! Road Closed” ones) are being pre-positioned at flood-prone areas. For those who think heavy rain means an automatic “work from home,” NHAI’s new Quick Response Teams beg to differ. These 24×7 Emergency Response Teams, armed with machinery and determination, are being deployed like monsoon commandos to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.
The cherry on top? Technology. NHAI is deploying drones to keep a bird’s eye view on road slopes, pavement cracks, and water accumulation — because nothing says “modern governance” like spotting potholes from 400 feet in the air. Real-time weather and traffic updates will also be relayed through the NHAI RajmargYatra app and IMD’s Meghdoot App, ensuring that you’re warned before your tires are.
Working in tandem with local authorities, executing agencies, and the heavens themselves (hopefully), NHAI’s pre-monsoon blitz aims to turn India’s National Highways into all-weather, all-smiles corridors of travel — or at least into roads that won’t double as swimming lanes.
So the next time it pours and your car still glides over a puddle-free expressway, remember — somewhere, an NHAI team just high-fived over a cleaned culvert.
