Highway travellers across India may soon find it easier to deal with vehicle breakdowns, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to prioritise the development of vehicle repair and puncture repair facilities along national highways and expressways.
The initiative comes in response to frequent complaints from commuters who often face long waits and considerable inconvenience when their vehicles break down on highways, particularly on access-controlled expressways where roadside assistance is not readily available.
To address the issue, NHAI’s wholly owned subsidiary, National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), has directed its field offices to expedite the establishment of repair workshops and puncture repair centres at Wayside Amenities (WSAs) being developed across the country.
Typically located every 40 to 60 kilometres, WSAs are designed to function as comprehensive service hubs for travellers. These facilities already offer amenities such as fuel stations, restaurants, restrooms, electric vehicle charging stations and dedicated parking and rest areas for truck drivers. The addition of vehicle repair services is expected to further improve convenience for highway users.
Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening roadside assistance infrastructure and ensuring timely support for motorists facing emergencies. With traffic volumes on highways steadily increasing, the lack of nearby repair facilities has often left stranded travellers waiting for extended periods.
NHLML is currently developing a nationwide network of modern wayside amenities under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Existing agreements already allow operators to establish repair and maintenance services, and NHAI has now urged stakeholders to accelerate their implementation.
The authority believes that integrating repair facilities into highway service hubs will reduce vehicle downtime, enhance road safety and provide faster assistance during breakdowns. The initiative is also expected to make long-distance travel more convenient and help create a more commuter-friendly highway network across the country.