Over 33,800 highway fatalities in 7 months: Govt

The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, one of India's most ambitious highway infrastructure projects, is being built at an estimated cost of nearly Rs one lakh crore. Stretching approximately 1,386 kilometres, it is set to become the country's longest access-controlled expressway upon completion, connecting Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Despite the high accident toll, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed an extensive network of safety and surveillance infrastructure on the corridor. The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway is equipped with 25 ambulances, 27 cranes, 27 route patrol vehicles, 901 PTZ cameras, 810 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, 160 radars, 150 Vehicle Actuated Speed Display systems, 262 Video Incident Detection Systems and 82 Variable Message Signs.

Similarly, on the Amritsar–Jamnagar Expressway, NHAI has deployed 32 ambulances, 32 cranes, 32 route patrol vehicles, 752 PTZ cameras, 610 ANPR cameras, 155 radars, 149 Vehicle Actuated Speed Display systems, 238 Video Incident Detection Systems and 102 Variable Message Signs to monitor traffic and respond to emergencies.

Meanwhile, the government has identified 471 bridges on the National Highway network showing signs of local distress, underscoring the scale of maintenance challenges facing India's expanding road infrastructure. According to the government, remedial work has been completed on 159 bridges, while repairs on the remaining 312 bridges are targeted for completion by December 2028.

Around 2,200 kilometres of National Highways have been damaged during the current year due to monsoon rains, floods and landslides. The government has incurred an expenditure of Rs 2,923 crore during the first quarter of FY 2026-27 towards the maintenance and repair of National Highways, including restoration of stretches affected by extreme weather.