The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has directed contractors to produce professional documentary films for highway projects costing more than Rs 500 crore, requiring them to record everything from construction milestones and engineering challenges to the methods used to complete the work.
Contractors and concessionaires must now hire professional video production agencies to document projects throughout construction. The final film must run for approximately 15–20 minutes and cover the project from its initial stages to completion and commissioning.
The requirement builds on the existing practice of recording construction progress. Monthly footage must now be incorporated into a continuous visual record showing how the project develops over time.
The documentation will cover site preparation, surveys, foundation work, road construction, bridges, viaducts, flyovers and the deployment of specialised machinery.
Major inspections, commissioning activities, safety measures, quality control and environmental protection measures will also feature in the recordings.
NHAI has placed particular emphasis on explaining the engineering problems encountered during construction and how project teams resolve them
The final documentaries will also include the project’s background and objectives, key achievements, construction techniques and benefits such as improved connectivity, reduced travel time, better road safety and wider economic access.
The guidelines require professional production, including scripting, narration or anchor presentation, high-quality ground footage, and aerial or drone recordings where permitted. Interviews with project personnel and stakeholders, graphics, maps, captions and suitable sound editing may also be included.
The final film must maintain a consistent narrative and visual style for both technical and general audiences. NHAI’s Media Division will approve the finished documentary.
The requirement will apply to upcoming projects worth more than Rs 500 crore for which bids have not yet been received. For projects already awarded but where the appointed date has not been declared, the documentary requirement will be incorporated through a change of scope.
