// Journal · Highways
NHAI and SSNNL agree a fast track for highway and canal crossings in Gujarat
A new MoU sets a time-bound approval process for National Highway, canal and pipeline crossings across Gujarat, with both agencies waiving each other's fees.
Crossings are where highway schedules often slip: a new road has to pass over a canal or a pipeline, and each crossing needs a separate approval from the agency that owns it. In Gujarat, where the Narmada canal network runs across much of the state, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) have now signed a memorandum of understanding to take the friction out of that step.
What the MoU sets out
- A simplified, time-bound framework for approving National Highway, canal and pipeline crossings.
- A mutual waiver of fees, charges and levies on every crossing it covers.
- Standardised engineering practice and clearly defined maintenance responsibilities for each crossing.
- Early sharing of project information, so conflicts are found at design stage rather than on site.
Why it matters
NHAI has 26 major highway projects under way in Gujarat, backed by around ₹20,000 crore of central funding and linking Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and the state's ports. A predictable crossing process protects those timelines and lowers cost on both the highway and the irrigation side.
Source: IANS via Social News XYZ, 22 September 2026.
