Infrastructure – Parliament Panel Questions NHAI Over Highway Safety and Toll Practices

Infrastructure –Members of Parliament from different political parties strongly questioned the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) during a meeting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, expressing concern over increasing road accidents, recurring landslides, inadequate drainage systems, and issues related to toll collection. According to sources familiar with the discussions, committee members urged the highway authority to improve planning, project execution, and public safety standards across the country’s national highway network.

Members Raise Concerns Over Project Planning

The meeting, chaired by PAC Chairman K. C. Venugopal, focused on several infrastructure-related issues highlighted in recent audit observations. Among those who participated actively was BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who questioned whether highway projects, particularly in mountainous regions, were being designed and implemented using appropriate engineering methods. Members reportedly emphasized that weak planning and insufficient monitoring have contributed to recurring problems on several important road corridors.

Hill State Highways Under Scrutiny

Anurag Thakur drew attention to the condition of highways in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, stating that road construction in these hill states requires greater scientific assessment. He reportedly noted that slope stabilization measures often remain incomplete, resulting in frequent landslides during adverse weather conditions. According to the discussion, securing only one side of a roadway while leaving the opposite slope vulnerable has led to repeated damage and interruptions to traffic movement.

The MP also highlighted problems faced by commuters at toll plazas. He expressed concern over extended waiting times, claiming that motorists sometimes spend between 15 and 30 minutes in queues. In addition, concerns were reportedly raised about the behavior of some toll personnel during interactions with travelers.

Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Also Discussed

NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav attended the committee meeting and responded to questions from members. The discussions also covered engineering and structural issues linked to the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. According to sources, NHAI officials acknowledged many of the concerns presented before the committee and assured members that necessary corrective measures are being implemented to improve project quality and operational efficiency.

Questions Over Toll Collection Policy

K. C. Venugopal also examined the authority’s toll collection framework. He pointed out that an earlier provision allowed toll charges to be reduced to 40 percent after the construction cost of a highway project had been recovered. According to him, this provision was removed in 2023, allowing full toll collection to continue even after project costs had been recovered.

Referring to findings mentioned in a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Venugopal said NHAI does not maintain separate project-wise financial records for toll revenue. He further expressed concern over reported differences between FASTag transaction data and actual vehicle movement, suggesting that such discrepancies could make it difficult to accurately verify toll collections and determine whether toll charges continue beyond the appropriate period.

Subcontracting and Local Consultation Highlighted

The committee also discussed the growing use of subcontracting in highway construction projects, including work related to Kerala’s NH-66. During the meeting, the Ministry informed members that under a revised policy, any subcontract exceeding eight percent of a project’s total value would require prior approval from NHAI.

Venugopal additionally raised concerns about drainage infrastructure along the national highway passing through Alappuzha, where inadequate water management has reportedly resulted in flooding of nearby residential areas. He stated that local public representatives and civic authorities had not been adequately consulted during project preparation. In response, NHAI assured the committee that local stakeholders would be included while preparing future Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to improve planning and address region-specific concerns.