Road Safety Audit at pre-opening stage is mandatory before Completion Certificate
MoRTH OM (February 2026)
Open the sourceWhat the circular says
MoRTH issued an Office Memorandum requiring that all national highway projects undergo a formal Road Safety Audit (RSA) at the pre-opening stage before any Completion Certificate is issued. The RSA must be conducted by an accredited RSA team (minimum two Lead RSA auditors with IRC/CSIR certification) and the RSA report must be submitted to the Independent Engineer and NHAI Project Director. Completion of RSA punch-list items is a condition precedent to final payment.
Contractor action
Schedule the pre-opening RSA at least 45 days before your target Completion Certificate date. RSA punch lists typically cover retroreflective markings, sign placement, guard rails, and drainage. If the punch list is extensive, it delays completion and triggers the LD clock. Commission an internal mock RSA 90 days before the planned completion date to fix items early.
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