The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has set timelines for land acquisition and environmental clearances to reduce delays in national highway projects.

Effective from June 1, 2025, the new guidelines aim to streamline project execution, preventing cost overruns and contractual disputes. Currently, 55% of road projects are delayed, mainly due to land and clearance bottlenecks. As per the new rules, over 90% of the right of way (ROW) must be acquired before bid receipt, and environmental, wildlife, and forest clearances must be completed at specific stages. A Care Ratings report highlights that 55% of the 374 road projects, worth Rs 1 lakh crore, are delayed beyond six months as of December 2024.