The Centre has introduced an enhanced version of the Rajmarg Pravesh portal aimed at streamlining the approval process for facilities that wish to gain access to National Highways, which includes fuel stations, restaurants, and wayside amenities.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has stated that this digital platform is intended to simplify the acquisition of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and other necessary permissions for projects situated along National Highways.
Inaugurated on February 26, 2026, by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the portal seeks to digitize the approval processes within the highways sector. Rajmarg Pravesh serves as a unified digital platform for permissions concerning highway access, right-of-way, and NOCs. It enables applicants to submit online requests for various activities associated with the National Highway network.
These activities encompass the establishment of commercial establishments such as petrol stations, restaurants, and rest areas along the highways. Industries, residential communities, and private landowners are also permitted to seek approvals for constructing connecting roads that link their properties to adjacent National Highways.
Furthermore, the portal streamlines the application process for wayside amenities and logistics facilities designed to assist highway users and facilitate freight movement. Additionally, it allows for the installation of utilities, including water, gas, optical fiber, and electricity pipelines, along or across National Highways.
The ministry has indicated that this new platform supersedes a predominantly manual system that previously necessitated applicants to visit multiple field offices and submit physical documentation. The former procedure frequently involved the physical transfer of files, limited tracking of application statuses, and challenges in identifying the correct authority for approvals, which resulted in delays.
The upgraded portal features digital document submission, online fee payment, and real-time tracking of applications. The ministry has also stated that authorities will respond within specified timelines.
The system incorporates GIS-enabled tools designed to pinpoint the appropriate highway chainage and jurisdiction, which the ministry indicated will minimize manual errors and enhance decision-making. Additionally, it preserves audit trails for actions performed on each application. India’s National Highway network presently extends over 1.46 lakh kilometers. The ministry stated that the portal seeks to enhance coordination between authorities and applicants while facilitating infrastructure development along these corridors.
