Chandigarh, March 27:- Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the state has significantly strengthened its road infrastructure over the past decade, with 1,719 km of national highways constructed at a cost of ?28,582 crore in the last 11 years.
Addressing a two-day national seminar on “Road Safety Solutions” organized by the Indian Roads Congress in collaboration with the Haryana Public Works Department in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister highlighted key initiatives aimed at improving road safety. These include identification and rectification of black spots, modernization of traffic management systems, awareness campaigns, and adoption of new technologies to reduce road accidents.
The event was also attended by Public Works and Public Health Engineering Minister Ranbir Gangwa. Over 350 experts, engineers, researchers, policymakers, and academicians are participating in the seminar, where various aspects of road safety will be discussed.
Saini emphasized that roads are not merely physical infrastructure but lifelines of development, connecting villages to cities, farmers to markets, and youth to opportunities. However, he expressed concern over the rising number of road accidents, calling road safety a social, moral, and humanitarian responsibility.
He stressed that strict adherence to traffic rules is crucial, noting that wearing helmets, fastening seat belts, and following speed limits can save lives. Awareness about road safety must reach schools, colleges, and all sections of society, he added.
Referring to Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” the Chief Minister said modern, safe, and smart infrastructure plays a vital role in achieving this goal. He credited the Prime Minister’s leadership for bringing transformative changes in the infrastructure sector across the country.
Highlighting achievements, Saini said that in the past 11 years, Haryana has:
1. Improved 43,703 km of roads at a cost of ?28,651 crore
2. Constructed 2,417 km of new roads at a cost of ?2,534 crore
3. Built 2,432 km of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana at a cost of ?1,077 crore
4. Developed 97 Railway Overbridges and Underpasses at a cost of around ?2,000 crore
He added that 21 new national highways have been approved in the state, of which 12 have already been completed, ensuring that every district in Haryana is now connected to the national highway network.
To improve driver skills, seven new driver training institutes have been established, taking the total to 22, where around 3.5 lakh drivers have been trained over the years.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the use of technology in road safety. A central control room in Karnal has installed 128 high-tech cameras on National Highway-44, resulting in 4.8 lakh e-challans for overspeeding in the past year. Additionally, the ‘Sanjaya App’, developed with the support of IIT Madras, is helping in accident analysis and management.
Cabinet Minister Ranbir Gangwa said the government has issued directions for road safety audits across all state highways and allocated ?25 crore for safety measures in school zones. He added that initiatives like reflective markings, fog-line painting, and the “Mhari Sadak” app are helping improve road conditions and safety across the state.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the seminar would generate innovative ideas and practical solutions to further strengthen road infrastructure and safety across the country.