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The Regional Officer, Chennai, of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Virender Sambyal, connected Tuesday (June 16, 2026) said that 95% of the accidents occurring on nationalist highways are owed to overspeeding of vehicles.
On behalf of the Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, an predisposition programme for journalists was conducted successful Salem. Mr. Sambyal addressed the gathering connected determination connectivity and roadworthy infrastructure.
Mr. Sambyal said that the full length of nationalist highways successful Tamil Nadu successful 2014 was 4,985 kilometres. Now, it has accrued to 6,806 kilometres, which is an summation by 36%. In the past 12 years, NHAI had invested ₹55,000 crore successful Tamil Nadu.
A full of 33 ongoing projects involving 981 km, including 581 km nether the Chennai portion and 400 km nether the Madurai region, outgo ₹44,256 crore. The six-laning of the Coimbatore bypass of NH 544, astatine a full magnitude of 26 km, astatine an estimated outgo of ₹1,800 crore, is astatine the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage.
He added that the DPR is nearing completion for the Salem bypass connected NH 44 (46-km stretch) estimated astatine ₹3,000 crore with alignment nether approval. Similarly, DPR is successful advancement for the six-eight laning of the Dharmapuri-Salem-Namakkal conception of NH 44, astatine a full magnitude of 78 km, astatine an estimated outgo of ₹1,700 crore.
Mr. Sambyal said that astatine present, the NHAI helpline 1033 is disposable successful English and Hindi. Within a month, Tamil volition besides beryllium available. “Hereafter, highways volition beryllium controlled-access highways, which volition person work roads passim the stretch, to segregate section trafficm” Mr. Sambyal stated.
Emphasising that, astatine present, 95% of toll gates are unfastened tolling systems, helium added that done controlled-access highway, vehicles volition wage lone for the region they travel. Already, this strategy is implemented connected a aviator basis at 5 toll gates, including Nallur, Chennasamudram, Nemili, Parandhur and Soorapatti. To uphold safety, NHAI is spending betwixt ₹1,000 crore and ₹1,500 crore each year.
Earlier, District Collector K. Elambahavath inaugurated the programme. PIB director, Chennai, P. Arun Kumar; PIB southbound portion manager wide incharge V. Palanichamy; K. Srinivasulu, NHAI task director, Salem; and officials participated.
