RITES Limited and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for providing specialised consultancy and technical services for highway, tunnel and other infrastructure projects.
The partnership will enable RITES to support NHIDCL across different stages of project development, covering planning, design, construction and maintenance. The agreement is aimed at providing technical expertise for infrastructure projects, including those involving highways and tunnels.
The MoU was signed by Yogesh Chandra Srivastava, Director (Technical), NHIDCL, and Prem Singh Meena, Director (Projects), RITES Limited. Dr Krishan Kumar, IAS, Managing Director, NHIDCL, and Rahul Mithal, Chairman and Managing Director, RITES, were present during the signing.
Consultancy Support for Highway and Tunnel Projects
Under the agreement, RITES will prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for highway and tunnel projects. The consultancy scope will cover technical inputs required during the planning and development stages of infrastructure projects.
DPR preparation is an important part of project development as it establishes the technical framework for proposed infrastructure works and supports subsequent stages of implementation.
RITES will also undertake external technical audits and provide third-party quality assurance services for projects covered under the partnership. These services are intended to provide independent technical assessments during project development and execution.
Road Safety and Crash Investigation
The scope of the MoU also includes road safety audits and technical support related to road accidents.
RITES will undertake crash investigations and assist with mitigation planning. Such assessments can help identify factors contributing to road crashes and support the development of measures aimed at addressing identified safety concerns.
Road safety audits are expected to form part of the technical services provided for relevant highway projects, covering safety considerations at different stages of project development.
Structural Health Assessment of Bridges and Flyovers
Another component of the agreement is the structural health assessment of bridges and flyovers.
RITES will provide technical assessments of these structures to support the evaluation of their condition. Structural health assessments can provide information on the performance and condition of infrastructure assets and help identify requirements for maintenance or further technical intervention.
The consultancy scope extends beyond new project development to technical support for existing infrastructure assets.
Technical Support Units for Infrastructure Projects
RITES will also provide Technical Support Unit (TSU) services for infrastructure projects undertaken by NHIDCL.
The services will cover technical requirements associated with project planning, development and implementation. The partnership therefore provides for consultancy support across multiple aspects of infrastructure delivery rather than being limited to DPR preparation.
The MoU brings together NHIDCL’s role in developing highway and infrastructure projects with RITES’ consultancy and engineering capabilities. The areas covered under the agreement include highway and tunnel DPRs, technical audits, quality assurance, road safety, crash investigation, bridge and flyover assessments and technical support services.
The agreement is expected to support NHIDCL in undertaking technical activities associated with infrastructure projects, particularly those requiring specialised consultancy inputs across the project lifecycle.
Pic: @nhidcl/X
