NHAI Policy Circular No. 12.44/2025: QR Code Sign Boards and Horizontal Pavement Signs

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

Policy Circular No. 12.44/2025
Dated: 18th December 2025

Subject: Placement of NHAI Project Information Sign Board with QR (Quick Response) Code Sign Board and Horizontal Signs on Pavement

(In Supersession of Policy Circular No. 12.41/2025 dated 23rd September 2025)

This policy circular, issued by the Road Safety Division of NHAI, aligns with IRC Code-67-2022 and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) guidelines dated 20.07.2023 (amended on 24.12.2024). It mandates the installation of informatory, cautionary, and regulatory signage, including innovative QR code-enabled information boards and pavement markings on national highways and expressways.

1. Purpose

To provide road users with comprehensive project details, emergency helpline numbers, and way-side amenities through scannable QR codes and visible horizontal pavement signs.

2. QR Code Sign Board Details

2.1–2.2 Basic Project Information

Name and Number of National Highway/Expressway
Name of SPV (Concessionaire)
Name of Contractor (Construction)
Name of Operation & Maintenance Contractor
Civil construction cost (Rs. xxxx Cr.)
User's location (Highway Chainage at xxxx km)
Project length (xxx km)
Construction and Maintenance periods
Nearby Toll Plaza details and Toll Manager mobile numbers

2.3 Emergency Contacts

Highway Patrol mobile numbers
Project Manager, Resident Engineer, NHAI PIU mobile numbers
Police Station name, contact, and distance
Toll-free emergency number: 1033
Nearest Hospital name, contact, and distance

2.4 Way Side Amenities

Nearest rest areas, Highway Mini Nest, vehicle service/E-charging stations
Truck lay-byes, petrol pumps, toilet facilities, puncture repair shops
Nearest restaurants (name and mobile)

2.5 Additional Information

Nearby Town/City
Any other local information (optional)

2.6 QR Code Specifications

Encoding: ISO/IEC 18004 compliant
Generated location-specifically via NHAI portal
Durability: Readable for minimum 10 years or board life
Maintenance: Replace entire board within 30 days if unreadable

2.7 Installation Locations

Rest Areas / Way Side Amenities
Toll Plazas
Highway Mini Nest Areas
Truck Lay-byes
Shoulder side: 250m from start and 250m before end of NHAI section
Shoulder side: Every 20 km or at reassurance signs (whichever later)

Bilingual Sign

Quantity: ... Nos
Letter Height: 75 mm
Overall Height: 2000 mm

Trilingual Sign

Quantity: ... Nos
Letter Height: 75 mm
Overall Height: 2000 mm

2.8 Procurement & Budgetary Rates (per board)

North Zone		West Zone		East Zone		South Zone		Central Zone
Aluminium	ACM	Aluminium	ACM	Aluminium	ACM	Aluminium	ACM	Aluminium	ACM
14,932	12,818	14,407	13,348	14,544	13,474	14,708	13,635	15,890	13,717

3. Horizontal Signs on Pavement

Colored cold-applied plastic markings (2–2.5 mm thick) in each lane to indicate NHAI jurisdiction (e.g., "NHAI WELCOMES YOU" at start, "NHAI THANKS YOU" at end).

Installation Locations

At start: 50m (median lane), then staggered every 50m across lanes
Before end: Similar staggered pattern 50m before end
At reassurance signs or every 20 km (same staggered placement)

Budgetary Rates (per sqm)

North Zone	West Zone	East Zone	South Zone	Central Zone
1,775	1,813	1,922	1,838	1,813

4. Implementation & Funding

Details prepared by IE/AE, approved by Project Director
Procured and installed by contractor/concessionaire
Specifications per NHAI Circular No. 12.38/2025 (19th March 2025)
Expenditure borne by NHAI per delegated powers (Circular No. 12.33/2023)
Compliance to be uploaded on Datalake 3.0 by AE/IE

5. Approval

Issued with the approval of Competent Authority.

Signed: CS. Sanjay Kumar Patel
I/c. Chief General Manager (Coord.)

YogiPWD

QR Code Sign Boards and Horizontal Pavement Signs

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

1. Purpose