1,719 km of National Highways Built in Haryana Over 11 Years, Says CM Nayab Singh Saini
Haryana ramps up road infrastructure and safety measures as Chief Minister inaugurates two-day IRC seminar in Chandigarh, with 4.8 lakh e-challans issued for over-speeding in a single year
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday declared that the state has constructed 1,719 kilometres of national highways over the past 11 years at a cost of ₹28,582 crore, ensuring every district is now linked to the national highway network. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day national seminar on ‘Road Safety Solutions’, jointly organised by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) and the Public Works Department in Chandigarh.
Addressing more than 350 experts, engineers, researchers, and policymakers, Saini underlined that road safety is not merely a technical concern but “a social, human, and moral responsibility.” He warned that well-framed rules are worthless without public compliance, urging citizens — especially students and youth — to adopt habits like wearing helmets, using seat belts, and respecting speed limits.
On the infrastructure front, the Chief Minister highlighted that 43,703 km of roads have been improved and 2,417 km of new roads constructed over the same period. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, an additional 2,432 km have been laid. The government has also built 97 overbridges and underpasses at roughly ₹2,000 crore to address hazardous railway crossings.
Technology is playing a growing role in enforcement. The government installed 128 advanced cameras on NH-44 between Kundli and Shambhu, monitored from a central control room in Karnal — leading to 4,80,000 electronic challans being issued for over-speeding in just one year. The state has also deployed the IIT Madras-developed Sanjaya application for accident data management and integrated the Haryana 112 emergency system with helplines 1033 and 1073 since July 2021.
Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa announced the state’s guiding principle as “Safe Roads, Strong Haryana,” noting a 22 percent budget increase for the PWD — from ₹4,830 crore in 2025–26 to ₹5,893 crore for 2026–27. He added that ₹25 crore has been earmarked for signage and road markings in school zones, and the public-facing ‘Mhari Sadak’ app now allows citizens to lodge pothole complaints via mobile, with GPS-mapped roads across 12 departments.
The seminar continues Saturday, with deliberations expected to yield policy recommendations on modern road construction and accident prevention across India.
