The government has decided to introduce a formal mechanism to upgrade roads maintained by Provincial Councils and Local Government Authorities to national highways under the Road Development Authority (RDA).
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to establish a process for evaluating and taking over roads currently managed by other government institutions.
According to the Cabinet decision, requests to upgrade such roads to national highways will be assessed based on their basic eligibility, technical feasibility and other relevant criteria.
The evaluations will be carried out by the Road Development Authority’s Road Takeover Committee, whose recommendations will form the basis for further action to declare eligible roads as national highways.
The decision follows recommendations submitted by a committee appointed to examine the transfer and maintenance of roads currently falling outside the RDA’s jurisdiction.
The Cabinet had previously granted approval on July 20, 2026, to appoint the committee, chaired by an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.
The committee was tasked with reviewing proposals submitted by District Coordination Committees and making recommendations on transferring roads maintained by Provincial Councils and Local Government Authorities to the RDA.
It was also responsible for identifying the financial allocations and staffing requirements necessary to maintain roads transferred to the RDA.
Based on the committee’s recommendations, the Cabinet has now approved proceeding with a structured evaluation process for upgrading eligible roads to national highway status. (Newswire)