The Regional Officer, Chennai, of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Virender Sambyal, on Tuesday (June 16, 2026) said that 95% of the accidents occurring on national highways are due to overspeeding of vehicles.

On behalf of the Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, an orientation programme for journalists was conducted in Salem. Mr. Sambyal addressed the gathering on regional connectivity and road infrastructure.

Mr. Sambyal said that the total length of national highways in Tamil Nadu in 2014 was 4,985 kilometres. Now, it has increased to 6,806 kilometres, which is an increase by 36%. In the last 12 years, NHAI had invested ₹55,000 crore in Tamil Nadu.

A total of 33 ongoing projects involving 981 km, including 581 km under the Chennai region and 400 km under the Madurai region, cost ₹44,256 crore. The six-laning of the Coimbatore bypass of NH 544, at a total length of 26 km, at an estimated cost of ₹1,800 crore, is at the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage.

He added that the DPR is nearing completion for the Salem bypass on NH 44 (46-km stretch) estimated at ₹3,000 crore with alignment under approval. Similarly, DPR is in progress for the six-eight laning of the Dharmapuri-Salem-Namakkal section of NH 44, at a total length of 78 km, at an estimated cost of ₹1,700 crore.

Mr. Sambyal said that at present, the NHAI helpline 1033 is available in English and Hindi. Within a month, Tamil will also be available. “Hereafter, highways will be controlled-access highways, which will have service roads throughout the stretch, to segregate local trafficm” Mr. Sambyal stated.

Emphasising that, at present, 95% of toll gates are open tolling systems, he added that through controlled-access highway, vehicles will pay only for the distance they travel. Already, this system is implemented on a pilot basis at five toll gates, including Nallur, Chennasamudram, Nemili, Parandhur and Soorapatti. To uphold safety, NHAI is spending between ₹1,000 crore and ₹1,500 crore every year.

Earlier, District Collector K. Elambahavath inaugurated the programme. PIB director, Chennai, P. Arun Kumar; PIB south zone director general incharge V. Palanichamy; K. Srinivasulu, NHAI project director, Salem; and officials participated.