New Delhi, Aug. 22 -- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued new quality, safety and event-management guidelines for newly inaugurated national highway projects, including provisions for independent audits of major projects and more intensive inspections after highways open to traffic.

The guidelines, issued on Friday, come after a review of existing protocols and incorporate "experience and lessons learnt" from recent inauguration and foundation-stone laying events by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The move comes weeks after the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, inaugurated in April, developed potholes, cracks and a cave-in following intense rain.

NHAI has also directed its media teams to proactively monitor print and digi...