New Delhi, 27 April (H.S.): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has reviewed the quality and maintenance of 7,926 km of national highways in Karnataka, following feedback received through media and social media channels. The review meeting was held in New Delhi and focused on ensuring timely project execution, higher quality standards and the use of modern technologies on the state’s highway network.

Key participants in the review

The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State Ajay Tamta and Harsh Malhotra, along with senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and various project‑related officers. The session was structured to closely examine the status of Karnataka’s national‑highway stretches and the effectiveness of ongoing maintenance work.

Emphasis on quality, technology and monsoon preparedness

Gadkari stressed strict adherence to prescribed quality norms, warning that no compromise will be allowed in road quality and that all projects must follow laid‑down standards with full accountability. He also urged officials and contractors to adopt advanced technologies and modern construction practices to make highway infrastructure more durable and efficient.

The Minister directed authorities to complete all necessary preparations before the monsoon season, including strengthening drainage, stabilising slopes and ensuring robust monitoring and response mechanisms to maintain road safety, structural integrity and smooth traffic flow during heavy rains.

Gadkari reiterated that any lapse in the construction or maintenance of national highways will be dealt with strictly, and that officers and contractors responsible for substandard work will be held accountable. The meeting also discussed the need to improve complaint‑redressal systems and pavement‑performance monitoring, in line with recent efforts by NHAI to introduce highway‑rating and maintenance‑manual reforms aimed at keeping India’s national‑highway network safer and more reliable for users.

By reviewing Karnataka’s 7,926‑km‑long national‑highway corridor in such detail, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is signalling a user‑centric, quality‑first approach to India’s growing highway network, even as it expands in length and traffic load.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar