CHENNAI: The official data tabled by the Union government in Parliament on Wednesday revealed only 46% of the funds allocated for rectifying accident-prone black spots on national highways (NH) in Tamil Nadu were utilised between 2023-24 and 2025-26.
Permanent road safety measures undertaken at black spots include the construction of roundabouts, flyovers, bridges, vehicular underpasses, four-lane and six-lane highway widening projects, foot overbridges, pedestrian crossings, improved highway illumination, and other safety interventions.
According to the data, Rs 824.05 crore was utilised out of the Rs 1,281.78 crore allocated during 2023-24. Similarly, in 2024-25, highways agencies spent Rs 471.38 crore against an allocation of Rs 1,026.19 crore. For 2025-26, Rs 1,345.68 crore was allocated, of which Rs 389.87 crore had been utilised. Overall, of the Rs 3,653.65 crore allocated between April 2023 and March 2026, only Rs 1,685.3 crore has been spent.
As many as 21,122 accidents occurred on NHs in Tamil Nadu in 2025, claiming 6,156 lives. Official figures indicate that 1,716 accident-prone black spots have been identified on the state’s 6,805 km network of NHs. Of this, 5,128 km is maintained by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), while the remaining 1,677 km is under the National Highways wing of the Tamil Nadu government.
NHAI officials said the utilisation figures presented in Parliament may not fully reflect the progress of ongoing projects. “The works, including the construction of flyovers, bridges and highway widening projects, may already be under execution.
As a result, the allocated funds could appear unutilised until they are released and accounted for under the respective works,” an official said. Responding to a question raised by AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP M Thambidurai on measures taken to reduce fatalities on national highways, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said of the 1,716 identified black spots in Tamil Nadu, 1,298 require long-term road safety interventions.
“Short-term road safety measures have been implemented at all identified black spot locations. Long-term rectification measures were required at 1,298 locations, of which work has already been completed at 732 locations. During the last three years, long-term rectification measures have been completed at 173 black spot locations,” Gadkari added.