Union government data tabled in Parliament showed that only 46 per cent of funds allocated for rectifying accident-prone black spots on national highways in Tamil Nadu were utilised in 2023-24 through 2025-26. Of Rs 3,653.65 crore allocated between April 2023 and March 2026, Rs 1,685.3 crore has been spent, equal to Rs 36,536.5 mn allocated and Rs 16,853 mn spent. The figures cover road safety measures such as roundabouts, flyovers, bridges, vehicular underpasses, four-lane and six-lane widening, foot overbridges, pedestrian crossings and improved highway illumination.

In 2023-24 the highways agencies utilised Rs 824.05 crore of Rs 1,281.78 crore allocated, equal to Rs 8,240.5 mn of Rs 12,817.8 mn. In 2024-25 expenditure was Rs 471.38 crore against an allocation of Rs 1,026.19 crore, equal to Rs 4,713.8 mn of Rs 10,261.9 mn. For 2025-26 an allocation of Rs 1,345.68 crore was made, of which Rs 389.87 crore had been utilised, equal to Rs 13,456.8 mn and Rs 3,898.7 mn.

Records show 21,122 accidents on national highways in Tamil Nadu in 2025 that claimed 6,156 lives. Authorities identified 1,716 accident-prone black spots on the state’s 6,805 km network, of which 5,128 km is maintained by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and 1,677 km is under the National Highways wing of the Tamil Nadu government. NHAI officials cautioned that utilisation figures presented in Parliament may not fully reflect progress, noting works may be under execution and allocated funds could appear unutilised until they are released and accounted for under respective projects.

Responding to a question from AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP M Thambidurai, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said short-term road safety measures have been implemented at all identified locations and that 1,298 of the 1,716 black spots require long-term interventions. He indicated long-term rectification work has been completed at 732 locations and that during the last three years long-term measures were completed at 173 black spot locations. Officials said monitoring and timely release of funds will be necessary to accelerate completion.