Venugopal, Thakur Raise Concerns Over NHAI's 'Unscientific' Approach In Parliament
Venugopal and Thakur jointly criticise NHAI practices.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) faced strong criticism from members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over concerns related to highway safety, project planning, recurring landslides, drainage issues and toll plaza management. The criticism came from members across party lines during a PAC meeting on Wednesday, with committee chairman K.C. Venugopal and BJP MP Anurag Thakur questioning the highway authority's approach to infrastructure development. According to sources familiar with the proceedings, PAC members raised concerns over increasing road accidents and alleged shortcomings in the execution of highway projects.
The panel reportedly questioned whether adequate scientific studies and safety assessments were being carried out before and during road construction, particularly in ecologically sensitive and mountainous regions. The strongest criticism came from Anurag Thakur, who highlighted the condition of highways in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The BJP leader is learnt to have told the committee that road construction work in hill states was not being carried out scientifically, with unstable slopes often left without proper protection measures.
He raised concerns that such practices were contributing to frequent landslides and repeated disruptions on important routes. Thakur pointed out that in several locations, while one side of a road was stabilised, the opposite side remained vulnerable, leading to collapses and damage during adverse weather conditions. He stressed that highway construction in mountainous areas required a more comprehensive approach involving geological assessments, slope management and effective drainage systems to prevent recurring failures.The PAC meeting also saw discussions on toll collection practices and commuter complaints at toll plazas.
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Thakur reportedly raised concerns over long waiting times, alleging that motorists are often forced to remain in queues for 15 to 30 minutes. He also highlighted complaints regarding the behaviour of toll plaza staff, calling for improvements in passenger experience and better monitoring of toll operations. Other members of the committee also questioned NHAI officials over issues related to highway maintenance, accident prevention measures and the implementation of infrastructure projects. The concerns raised during the meeting reflected broader debates over road safety and the quality of large-scale highway development across the country.
The criticism from both ruling and opposition members indicates growing scrutiny of India's highway expansion programme, which has been a major focus of infrastructure development in recent years. While NHAI has played a key role in building and expanding national highways, lawmakers have increasingly called for greater emphasis on safety, environmental considerations and long-term sustainability.
The PAC is expected to continue examining the functioning of NHAI and may seek further details from the authority on measures being taken to address the concerns raised during the meeting. The discussions come at a time when extreme weather events, landslides and infrastructure-related accidents have increased attention on the need for safer and more resilient road networks, particularly in vulnerable hill regions.
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