Performance Rating of National Highways Based on Road User Perspective – A Case Study of Kalka–Shimla Highway

Abstract

The road network plays the most important role in the development of India’s infrastructure. Through the initiative of rating national highways, we will be able to set standards for quality highway services, and as a result, road users will receive excellent value for their money. Moreover, better quality Indian Highways will lead to safer travel experiences and consequently result in fewer road accidents and fatalities. The effort for evaluating the roads was done by US Department of Transportation in 1950s as has been highlighted in the Highway Sufficiency Rating Manual of 1952. However, these ratings were based only on efficiency and safety parameters, completely neglecting the user perspective and services. As the road users gain access to information about products and services in real time over the internet, they are more empowered than ever before. Thus, the performance evaluation of a highway stretch must include additional aspects associated with the user experience. This paper examines the real-time problems they face along the journey. National Highway authority of India (NHAI) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) of India have framed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for assessment and rating of 4-6 lanes divided carriageway NHs based on road user perspective. Road user perspective carries a 20 per cent weightage in overall highway efficiency. A questionnaire survey was taken as part of the road user perspective study on the Kalka-Shimla NH No. 5 in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. The highway scored 17.1 marks out of 20 based on users’ response, representing an 85.5% score, and indicating minor deficiencies regarding the selected highway facilities.