Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna on Tuesday called on Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum related to Tamil Nadu’s road infrastructure development and National Highways projects.

According to an official release, 71,313 road accidents occurred on National Highways in Tamil Nadu and 18,421 fatalities were recorded. To reduce accidents, Mr. Arjuna urged Mr. Gadkari to take swift measures, including enhancing patrol vehicle and emergency ambulance services operated by the National Highways Authority of India, establishing emergency care hospitals along highways, and creating safer U-turn systems.

Further, he sought the upgrading of around 1,500 km of four-lane highways into six-lane highways, expansion of the Chengalpattu–Tindivanam (NH-32) stretch into a six or eight-lane highway, and upgrading of the Coimbatore bypass road (Neelambur–Madukkarai, NH-544) and the Tiruchi (Panjappur)–Jeeyapuram–Karur (NH-81) stretches into six-lane highways.

He also sought the development of the Karur–Coimbatore (NH-81) stretch into a six-lane highway with service roads, construction of elevated corridors on the Madhavaram–Cholavaram (NH-16) and Maduravoyal–Sriperumbudur (NH-48) stretches, widening of the Uppilipalayam flyover ring road, and approval for Central Road and Infrastructure Fund works for 2026–27.