New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K President and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Sat Sharma, raised the issue of road safety in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir during a Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi, drawing the attention of the Government towards the urgent need to further strengthen safety infrastructure on National Highways in the region.
While raising the issue, Sat Sharma highlighted that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has undertaken unprecedented infrastructure development across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the road and highway sector. He said that massive investments in road widening projects, construction of national highways, ring roads, tunnels, and flyovers have significantly improved connectivity across the Union Territory. These initiatives have substantially reduced travel time, enhanced mobility, and made daily commuting easier and more efficient for the people.
However, Sharma emphasized that along with rapid expansion of road infrastructure, it is equally important to ensure the highest standards of road safety for commuters.
Highlighting the seriousness of the matter, Sat Sharma said that according to information recently provided by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Parliament, a significant number of precious lives have been lost and numerous accidents have occurred on National Highways in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that these alarming figures clearly reflect the serious and persistent safety challenges on these crucial road corridors.
Raising concern over the ground situation, Sharma stated that although the Ministry has informed Parliament that road safety audits are mandatory at all stages of highway development and that accident-prone spots are identified through the e-DAR system, the realities on the ground reveal serious implementation gaps. He pointed out that many stretches of National Highways in the Union Territory continue to suffer from damaged or missing crash barriers, delayed replacement of safety infrastructure, inadequate road signage, unsafe dividers, and the absence of quick-response safety measures, particularly on hilly and accident-prone stretches.
Sat Sharma stated that in many cases, damaged crash barriers remain unrepaired for months, posing a direct and constant threat to commuters and often leading to fatal accidents. Considering the difficult terrain and the high-speed traffic on National Highways passing through Jammu and Kashmir, he stressed that crash barriers and other safety infrastructure are not merely optional facilities but life-saving necessities.
Sat Sharma further emphasized that road safety cannot be viewed merely as a technical or administrative matter, but must be treated as an issue directly linked to the protection of human lives. He urged the Government of India and the concerned ministry to accord the highest priority to strengthening road safety infrastructure and ensuring strict and timely implementation of safety measures on National Highways in Jammu and Kashmir, so that further loss of life and property can be prevented.
Reiterating the development-focused vision of the Modi Government, Sharma said that while historic progress has been made in improving connectivity and infrastructure in the region, continuous monitoring and proactive safety measures are necessary to ensure that the benefits of development are matched with the highest standards of commuter safety. He called for urgent and coordinated action to prevent further loss of life and to make the highways of Jammu and Kashmir safer for every traveler.
