Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari is set to undertake a crucial inspection of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on Wednesday, barely a week after a devastating road accident on the expressway in Rajasthan’s Dausa district claimed eight lives and left several others injured. The minister’s visit comes amid growing concerns over highway safety, road signage and accident-prone sections along one of India’s flagship infrastructure projects.
Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said Gadkari will travel by road from Delhi through Dausa before proceeding towards Kota, Ratlam and further into Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to assess various stretches of the expressway.
Nitin Gadkari Delhi-Mumbai Expressway inspection to review safety measures
According to NDTV, the Nitin Gadkari Delhi-Mumbai Expressway inspection will include a detailed assessment of road conditions, maintenance work, ongoing construction and safety infrastructure. Gadkari is expected to pass through Dausa around 2 pm and may visit the location where the fatal July 1 accident occurred.
Later in the day, the Union Minister will inspect the Dara Tunnel project in the Mukundra Hills near Kota. He will also review construction progress and hold meetings with NHAI officials and project engineers regarding pending work and operational preparedness.
Authorities have intensified preparations ahead of the minister’s visit by reviewing traffic management systems and safety arrangements across the corridor.
Also Read | Air India flight aborts take-off after runway conflict in Mumbai
Deadly Dausa crash exposed critical highway concerns
According to NDTV, the Nitin Gadkari Delhi-Mumbai Expressway inspection follows a tragic accident involving a Haridwar-Indore bus that rammed into a trailer truck near Dhanawda village in Dausa district before plunging into a gorge and catching fire. Eight passengers died while 28 others sustained injuries.
Preliminary findings suggest inadequate signage near Zero Point may have contributed to the crash. Officials believe the truck driver missed the Jaipur-Ajmer exit because of poor directional markings, slowed down abruptly and was struck by the speeding bus approaching from behind.
Investigators have also found that several highway signs contain arrows too small to be clearly visible at expressway speeds, increasing confusion for motorists approaching major exits.
Also Read | Delhi may roll out ₹2,500 aid for women on Raksha Bandhan
Probe underway as authorities identify safety lapses
According to NDTV, the Rajasthan administration has constituted an eight-member committee to investigate road safety issues across Packages 6, 7 and 8 of the expressway. The panel has already identified several shortcomings, including non-functional SOS phones, inadequate directional signage and weak enforcement of speed regulations.
Officials also found that multiple drivers have reportedly missed the Jaipur exit because of insufficient guidance at Zero Point, with some even attempting to reverse on the expressway, creating additional risks.
The Nitin Gadkari Delhi-Mumbai Expressway inspection is expected to provide a clearer roadmap for addressing these deficiencies as the government seeks to improve safety standards on one of India’s most ambitious highway corridors.
