New Delhi, October 24, 2026: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued new guidelines to improve toilets and parking facilities at national highway toll plazas. The guidelines introduce requirements for accessible toilets, QR-based complaint systems, smart monitoring and financial penalties for poor maintenance.
Announced on October 23, the guidelines establish standards for upgrading existing facilities, maintaining cleanliness, improving the safety of highway users and monitoring maintenance performance through digital systems.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, existing toilet facilities will undergo technical assessments to identify necessary repairs and upgrades to flooring, plumbing, sanitary fittings, lighting, ventilation, drainage and signage.
Cleaning schedules will be determined by the size of toilet blocks and traffic levels to ensure that facilities are maintained according to usage.
The guidelines also introduce safety measures for women, families and travellers using toll plaza facilities at night. These include adequate lighting, CCTV surveillance of approaches and parking areas, sanitary napkin vending machines and clear signage identifying available amenities.
Under the new requirements, each covered toll plaza must provide at least one universally accessible toilet with barrier-free entry, suitable doorways and grab bars for people with disabilities.
Parking facilities will also be improved through designated parking bays and proper drainage, with provisions for future electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
A major component of the guidelines is the proposed use of technology to monitor toilet conditions and maintenance requirements.
Smart systems will monitor water availability, odour, sewage levels, leaks, electricity supply and toilet occupancy.
The systems are intended to generate alerts for problems such as water shortages, sewage overflows and equipment failures, allowing maintenance teams to identify issues and take corrective action.
Monitoring information will be integrated with NHAI’s central digital platform, enabling officials to track facility conditions, complaints, maintenance activities and agency performance through a central dashboard.
The guidelines also provide for QR codes linked to the Rajmargyatra app and touchscreens at toilet facilities, allowing highway users to submit complaints and suggestions.
The feedback will be recorded digitally to help authorities monitor complaints and track maintenance responses.
However, the announcement does not establish that QR codes, touchscreens or smart monitoring systems have already been installed at every covered toll plaza.
The guidelines also require fully mechanised cleaning and desludging of septic tanks, soak pits and sewer lines. Manual entry into septic tanks, manholes and sewer lines will be prohibited under the prescribed maintenance requirements.
NHAI has introduced a structured inspection framework covering daily supervision, weekly technical inspections, monthly joint reviews, quarterly audits and annual third-party assessments.
Maintenance agencies will be evaluated through physical inspections, digital monitoring data and verified feedback from highway users.
The guidelines prescribe timelines for rectifying maintenance deficiencies and financial penalties for agencies that fail to maintain facilities properly. Repeated non-compliance may result in stricter action.
However, the ministry’s announcement does not specify the exact penalty amounts or the time allowed to resolve individual maintenance problems.
NHAI said the measures are intended to improve cleanliness, accessibility, safety and service quality at toll plaza facilities.
The announcement does not disclose a separate implementation budget, a nationwide completion deadline or the number of toll plazas requiring upgrades.
The implementation of the guidelines will depend on equipment installation, upgrades to existing facilities and continued enforcement by the authorities concerned.
Read also: NHAI invites bids for ₹15.78 crore improvement works on 42.1 km of NH-346 in Madhya Pradesh
