The North News
New Delhi, January 6
India’s highways authority has raised concerns over poor mobile phone connectivity on long stretches of national highways, warning that the gaps pose risks to public safety and emergency response. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sought urgent intervention from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), asking them to issue directions to telecom service providers to address the problem, particularly on greenfield projects and remote highway sections.
Following a nationwide assessment, NHAI said it had identified 424 locations across about 1,750 kilometres of the national highway network where mobile connectivity is either absent or critically weak. Details of these locations have been formally shared with the DoT and TRAI for further action.
The NHAI authority said the lack of reliable mobile coverage along highways that pass through rural and remote areas hampers day-to-day highway operations, weakens emergency response systems and affects the delivery of technology-enabled public services.
In a further safety push, NHAI has asked TRAI to direct telecom operators to send proactive SMS or flash SMS alerts to motorists approaching geo-mapped accident-prone zones. These include stretches frequently affected by stray cattle movement and other identified hazards. Such alerts, the authority said, would reach drivers before they enter dangerous zones, helping them slow down and drive more cautiously. A list of accident-prone stretches linked to stray cattle has also been shared with the regulator.
By seeking coordinated action to bridge connectivity gaps and improve safety measures, NHAI said it aims to ensure that India’s national highways are not only physically connected but also digitally enabled, in line with its broader goal of delivering safer and more user-focused road infrastructure.
