NHAI Plans Over 700 Wayside Amenity Centres Across National Highways

Travellers on India's national highways and expressways are set for a much more comfortable journey, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) moves ahead with an ambitious plan to develop Wayside Amenity Centres at regular intervals across the country.

National Highways Logistics Management Limited, a subsidiary of NHAI, has issued instructions to all its regional offices directing them to develop Wayside Amenity Centres wherever required. These multipurpose hubs are designed to bring together all essential traveller services under one roof, so that drivers no longer need to search for fuel stations, repair shops, or eateries separately during long trips.

Plans are underway to develop more than 700 such Wayside Amenity Centres across the country, including in Rajasthan. Of these, 134 centres have already become operational, while construction and development work are ongoing at other locations.

These centres will offer fuel stations, vehicle repair services, restaurants, rest areas, toilets, parking, and other essential services. In Rajasthan, the centres are being set up at intervals of 40 to 60 kilometres. This spacing is intended to ensure that no traveller is ever too far from help, particularly in the event of a vehicle breakdown on a remote stretch of highway.

The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway already offers such facilities, where travellers can access food, shopping, and fuel stations, along with rest houses where they can take breaks during long drives. Clean toilets, drinking water, parking, and emergency assistance are also available along this corridor.

In the future, there are also plans to develop additional facilities at these centres, such as children's entertainment, the sale of local products, and improved food and beverage options, making journeys even more convenient and comfortable.

The initiative is part of India's broader push to match global highway standards and improve road safety by reducing driver fatigue, providing timely vehicle assistance, and enhancing the overall travel experience on the country's rapidly expanding expressway network.