Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna on Sunday (May 31, 2026) said the Highways Department would accord top priority to road safety measures to reduce accidents and fatalities across Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to reporters after reviewing the functioning of the Highways Department with officials in Coimbatore, the Minister said Tamil Nadu continues to record the highest number of road accidents in the country. A total of 71,313 road accidents and 18,421 fatalities were reported in the State during 2025. Between January and April 2026, 26,355 road accidents and 6,902 fatalities were reported.

The government had set a goal of bringing down accident numbers and would focus on addressing factors contributing to crashes, including overspeeding, inadequate signages near junctions and the absence of traffic signals, he said.

The Minister said road safety audits would be strengthened and corrective measures taken at accident-prone locations. Monitoring cameras would be installed to enforce speed limits and strict penalties would be imposed for violations. A separate budget allocation would be made for road safety initiatives, he added.

He said hospitals would be established along highways at locations reporting high number of accidents. Highway patrolling would also be increased to improve emergency response and enforcement.

He added that a fresh structural audit of major flyovers and bridges across the State would be undertaken to assess their condition and identify maintenance requirements.

Referring to the functioning of the Public Works Department (PWD), the Minister said measures had been initiated to curb corruption and fill vacancies in the department. Efforts were also under way to restructure the department to improve efficiency and ensure financial sustainability.

The Minister said several high-value tenders awarded in the period preceding the Assembly elections were being audited. Based on the findings, the government would take appropriate action, including retendering works wherever required, to ensure transparency and adherence to procedures, he said.

The Minister also added that future government buildings would be planned with long-term requirements in mind. In cities where land costs are high, constructing low-rise buildings such as G+2 or G+3 structures was not an efficient use of land. Instead, the government would consider high-rise developments, including G+15 buildings where feasible, to accommodate future demand and make better use of the available land. Housing quarters and other government facilities would be designed considering the infrastructure needs for the next 40 years, he said.