NHAI Sets Minimum Pay Standards for Engineers on National Highway Consultancy Projects
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a significant reform aimed at improving the quality of engineering services on National Highway projects by prescribing minimum remuneration for engineers and technical professionals engaged through consultancy firms. The revised framework has been incorporated into the Standard Request for Proposal (RFP) documents for Authority Engineer (AE) and Independent Engineer (IE) consultancy contracts. The initiative is expected to strengthen project supervision, improve construction quality, and create better career opportunities for engineering professionals working in India's highway infrastructure sector.
The revised provisions establish minimum monthly remuneration for key engineering positions deployed on National Highway consultancy assignments. Under the new norms, Team Leaders and Bridge or Structural Engineers will receive a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹5 lakh. Resident-cum-Highway Engineers, Programme Schedule Reviewers, Senior Quality-cum-Material Experts, and Senior Pavement Specialists will receive at least ₹3.5 lakh per month. Road Safety Experts will be entitled to a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹2.5 lakh, while Sub-Professional Civil Engineers and Young Professional Civil Engineers will receive minimum monthly remuneration of ₹1.5 lakh and ₹1 lakh respectively.
To ensure compliance with these revised remuneration standards, NHAI has introduced an escrow-based payment mechanism. This system is intended to ensure that consultancy firms pay engineers according to the prescribed minimum rates, providing greater financial security and transparency for professionals working on National Highway projects.
Apart from improving salary structures, the revised framework also focuses on retaining experienced engineering professionals within the highway sector. Previously, Site Engineers engaged on National Highway projects were limited to a maximum engagement period of five years. Under the revised policy, these experienced professionals can now transition into consultancy assignments after completing their tenure, allowing the industry to retain valuable field expertise and create a structured career progression pathway.
NHAI has also introduced a provision requiring consultancy firms appointed as Authority Engineers or Independent Engineers to ensure that at least 20 percent of their Sub-Professional Engineering Staff comprises previously engaged Site Engineers or Young Professionals who have worked on projects under NHAI, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), or the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). This requirement is expected to encourage the utilization of professionals who already possess practical experience in National Highway construction and project supervision.
The revised framework further provides higher remuneration for experienced Site Engineers and Young Professionals possessing five years or more of relevant experience. Such professionals will now receive a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹1.5 lakh, creating greater incentives for skilled engineers to continue working in the highway infrastructure sector instead of shifting to other industries.
Another important reform introduced by NHAI is the mandatory empanelment and interview process through the NHAI Skill Bridge Portal. The portal aims to establish a transparent and merit-based system for selecting engineering professionals for consultancy assignments. By standardizing the recruitment process, NHAI intends to improve the quality of technical supervision across National Highway projects while ensuring that qualified professionals are deployed at construction sites.
Authority Engineers and Independent Engineers play a crucial role in monitoring construction activities, verifying compliance with technical specifications, maintaining quality standards, reviewing contractor performance, and ensuring road safety during project execution. By improving compensation and strengthening the selection process, NHAI expects consultancy firms to attract experienced engineers capable of delivering higher-quality supervision throughout the lifecycle of National Highway projects.
The revised policy is also expected to benefit consultancy firms by improving employee retention and reducing attrition in a highly competitive infrastructure market. Better remuneration, transparent payment mechanisms, and defined career growth opportunities can help firms build stronger engineering teams while improving continuity across long-duration highway projects.
India is currently undertaking one of the world's largest highway development programmes, with major investments in expressways, economic corridors, greenfield highways, and logistics infrastructure. As project complexity continues to increase, the availability of skilled engineering professionals has become essential for ensuring timely execution, maintaining construction quality, and delivering durable infrastructure assets. Through these revised consultancy norms, NHAI aims to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance engineering excellence, and support the long-term development of India's National Highway network.