Parliament Question: Accidents due to Poor Road Conditions

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3331 ANSWERED ON 12TH MARCH, 2026 ACCIDENTS DUE TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS 3331. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has any data regarding the number of accidents that have occurred on toll roads with poor road conditions during the last five years, year-wise; (b) whether negligence on the part of toll project authorities has been held responsible for these accidents and the concrete steps being taken by the Government to prevent such accidents in future; (c) the responsibilities determined for contractors with regard to maintenance of roads during the period of toll collection; (d) the number of contractors against whom penal action has been taken due to poor maintenance during the last five years, year-wise; and (e) the number of cases in which toll contracts have been cancelled and if the action taken is negligible, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily responsible for construction and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). Report on “Road Accidents in India” is published based on data received from States/ UTs. As per the report, total number of road accidents on National Highways, during the last five years is given in the table below, which also includes data of road accidents on NHs for various reasons including Data on accidents on National Highways for the Year 2025 is based on e-Detailed Accidents Report (eDAR) as on 11.03.2026 : - Year No. of Road Accidents on National Highways 2020 1,19,615 2021 1,28,825 2022 1,51,9972023 1,50,177 2024 1,50,958 2025 1,35,005 (b) and (c) Tolling agencies are responsible for collection of user fee and are not responsible for the maintenance of project stretch. Upkeep and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) including bridges, structures, etc. are undertaken through different modes. In Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contracts, the Contractors maintain roads during construction period and thereafter during Defects Liability Period-cum-Maintenance Period. In Design-Build– Finance-Operate and Transfer (DBFOT)/ Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) Contracts, the Concessionaires maintain the roads during construction period and thereafter till end of concession period. Concessionaires of Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT)/Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) of Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvIT) agreements maintain the roads during the concession period. Rest of the National Highway stretches are generally maintained by contractors of Performance based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) and Short-Term Maintenance Contracts (STMC). If non-compliance is identified with respect to user service obligations, appropriate actions are taken against concerned contractor/ concessionaire in accordance with the contractual and regulatory framework. (d) and (e) Details of number of contractors against whom penal action has been taken due to poor maintenance of National Highways during last Five Financial Years are given below :- Financial No. of Contractors against whom penal action taken due Year to poor maintenance 2020-21 10 2021-22 9 2022-23 22 2023-24 26 2024-25 37 2025-26 (Till Feb) 29 Further, the Concession Agreement in respect of the BOT (Toll) project of 6-laning of Hosur - Krishnagiri section of NH-44 was terminated on 22.01.2024 due to non-maintenance of the Project Highway. *****