Over 1.5 Lakh Accidents, 65,000 Fatalities Reported On India's National Highways In Three Years: Government
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
India’s National Highways recorded more than 1.5 lakh road accidents in 2024 alone, with over 64,000 fatalities, while the government has announced plans to expand maintenance coverage across the highway network, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
2024 Recorded Highest Number Of Accidents
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said National Highways recorded 1,50,958 accidents and 64,772 fatalities in 2024, with 1,45,868 people injured.
The figures for 2025 stood at 1,43,526 accidents and 62,122 fatalities, while 1,60,224 injuries were reported.
In 2026, up to July 27, National Highways had recorded 77,234 accidents, 32,771 fatalities and 89,560 injuries. The 2025 and 2026 figures are provisional and based on Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) data.
Government Plans Wider Highway Maintenance
The government said all damaged sections of National Highways identified over the past three years have been attended to for immediate maintenance or restoration to traffic-worthy condition.
It said road safety audits are mandatory at all stages of National Highway projects, including design, construction, the pre-opening stage and during operation and maintenance of existing roads.
The audits generally identify issues such as inadequate road markings, poor signage, insufficient crash barriers and the need for overpasses, underpasses or foot overbridges.
20,000 Km To Be Taken Up For Maintenance In 2026-27
According to the government, India has around 1.46 lakh km of National Highways.
Of this, around 36,000 km is currently under development, while 58,000 km is under the Defect Liability Period or concession period. Another 41,000 km is under maintenance, primarily through Short Term Maintenance Contracts and Performance Based Maintenance Contracts. Around 4,000 km is maintained departmentally through the Border Roads Organisation.
The government has decided to take up maintenance of another 20,000 km during 2026-27 as part of its plan to achieve 100 per cent maintenance coverage of the National Highway network.
Contractors Face Penalties For Poor Maintenance
The government said maintenance responsibility for highway stretches under development, Operation, Maintenance and Transfer concessions or Operation and Maintenance contracts rests with the concerned concessionaires or contractors until the end of the defect liability or concession period.
For other stretches, maintenance is undertaken through Performance Based Maintenance Contracts or Short Term Maintenance Contracts.
Authorities have also been directed to inspect highway stretches within six months of the expiry of the defect liability or concession period to ensure that defects have been rectified and maintenance obligations fulfilled.
Defaulting contractors or concessionaires can face action including contract termination, penalties, liquidated damages, debarment or blacklisting, and being declared non-performers or failures in cases classified as “catastrophic”.
