Ministry directs highway developers to stream construction projects on YouTube, Nitin Gadkari emphasizes transparency

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Road construction in India will now be visible not only on the ground but also on digital platforms. In a major step toward increasing transparency, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and all highway developers to create their own YouTube channels and regularly upload videos of each project.

This decision was taken with the aim of direct public engagement and transparency, to show the public the actual status of road projects and to receive direct feedback from them. While issuing these instructions, Road Transport Secretary V. Umashankar said that till now the ministry often received information related to road construction through videos of YouTubers, but now this work will be done by NHAI itself. He said, "We want to make video uploading a part of the project contract, so that the public can see how the roads are being built and where the problems are."

According to officials, construction companies are currently required to submit drone -shot videos to the ministry. These videos will now be publicly uploaded to YouTube, allowing people to monitor the progress of highway projects in real time and share their opinions or complaints directly. This move will make monitoring of road projects transparent and public-friendly.

Hoardings with QR codes will be installed on highways

During the event, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced another innovation. He stated that hoardings with QR codes will now be installed along highways. By scanning these, people will be able to see which company built the road, which official is responsible, and how to contact them. Gadkari strictly instructed officials not to ignore road-related complaints received on social media and to take immediate action.

“Roads should not just be built, they should also last” – Gadkari

Gadkari said that honesty, quality and accountability should be the top priority in road construction. He said, “Our roads should not only be beautiful but also durable. This initiative will become a new model of digital transparency in the country and will take public participation to a new level.” This step of the ministry combines both 'digital monitoring' and 'public participation' in the road construction sector. Now common citizens will be able to directly see how and where the roads built with taxpayer money are being constructed, and if there are any shortcomings, their voice will easily reach the government.