The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in coordination with central and state road departments, is preparing measures to prevent accidents caused by stray cattle on national highways and expressways in the erstwhile Nalgonda district. The measures will cover stretches in Telangana where cattle movement on roads has been reported frequently.

Under a proposed standard operating procedure (SOP), cattle found straying on highways will be linked to their owners through special tags. The owners will face penalties, while roads and stretches with frequent cattle movement will be identified and marked with warnings for motorists.

National Highway 65 passes through Choutuppal, Narketpally, Nakrekal, Suryapet and Kodad. Expressways and state highways also connect or pass through Miryalaguda, Bhongir, Devarakonda and Nalgonda, creating several points where stray animals can come into contact with high-speed traffic.

According to the report, 385 cattle died in road accidents during the period identified as 2025–206. Of these, 153 deaths were recorded in Nalgonda, 103 in Yadadri-Bhongir and 129 in Suryapet. The accidents also resulted in major fatalities involving vehicle occupants and passengers, besides causing damage to vehicles.

The authorities attributed the presence of cattle on highways largely to owners leaving them free for grazing. Greenery developed along highway medians was also identified as an attraction for the animals, increasing the risk of sudden crossings and collisions.

As part of the proposed system, NHAI would arrange for stray cattle to be loaded onto vehicles and moved to shelters maintained by state and local authorities. Owners would be required to pay penalties to reclaim their animals under the Cattle Trespass Act of 1871. The planned tagging, enforcement and warning measures are intended to reduce cattle-related accidents and improve safety for highway users.