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Directs Officials to File on Alarming Road Safety Statistics
The at Bilaspur has intensified its supervision of state infrastructure and public security, directing the Chief Secretary and the (NHAI) to submit comprehensive regarding highway maintenance and accident prevention measures. This judicial intervention comes as the Court reviews the progress of critical infrastructure projects following a surge in road-related fatalities.
The Path to Improvement: Project Timelines
Addressing the delays in road development, the Court scrutinized the progress of two major national highways. Regarding the Seepat–Balouda–Korba road (NH 130-A), the confirmed that a work order was issued on , following the deposit of an additional performance guarantee by the selected contractor, .
Similarly, for the 49-kilometer stretch of NH 343 between Ambikapur and Rajpur, the Court was informed that a joint venture between and was actively engaged in construction, with a completion deadline set for . While acknowledging these operational strides, the remained firm on the necessity of continued to ensure quality and adherence to schedules.
The Human Toll: Unpacking the Data
The proceedings took a somber turn as the Court examined a report detailing road safety across the state. Data collected between and revealed a staggering 22,375 accidents, resulting in nearly 10,000 deaths and over 18,000 injuries. The expressed its profound concern over the prevalence of identified ""—segments of road where accidents occur with high frequency—noting that these sites require immediate engineering and regulatory intervention.
Key Observations
During the hearing, the Court emphasized that road safety is far more than a routine administrative duty. The highlighted several critical shortcomings:
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"The issues involved in the present are of considerable public importance and the projects have not yet reached completion."
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"The aforesaid statistics are indeed alarming and underscore the pressing need for effective implementation of road safety measures throughout the State."
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"Having regard to the alarming number of road accidents... this Court is of the considered opinion that road safety cannot be treated as a routine administrative exercise."
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"Regular meetings of the are indispensable for effective monitoring, identification and rectification of , review of accident data, and implementation of preventive measures."
Mandating Accountability
Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal expressed specific dissatisfaction regarding the functioning of . Notably, in Surguja District, the committee reportedly met only once during the period under review, leading the Court to conclude that district-level monitoring remains significantly inadequate.
The Court has ordered the Chief Secretary of the Government of Chhattisgarh and the Regional Officer of the NHAI to present detailed action-taken reports by . These reports must outline the specific steps taken for the rectification of , the frequency of safety meetings held, and provide a concrete timeline for the finalization of all pending infrastructure commitments. The matter is currently listed for further hearing to ensure that the State’s administrative machinery remains aligned with the urgent public need for secure transportation infrastructure.
