The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suggested that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) must  coordinate and improve mobile network coverage on key stretches of the national highway.

The request follows an internal assessment that identified significant connectivity gaps along major routes.

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Loopholes Across National Highway

In a recent statement, NHAI said it has identified 424 locations spanning about 1,750 kilometres where mobile network service was poor or unavailable.

The situation is even more concerning in remote and greenfield sections of the road network.

The authority shared detailed information on these stretches with DoT and TRAI. They have proposed an ‘expeditious and coordinated action’ where direct telecom service providers address the shortfalls.

NHAI is highly concerned about public safety implications as reliable mobile connectivity is very important for emergency response, communication and technology-based services along highways.

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Regulatory Intervention and Safety Alerts Under Consideration

NHAI has also asked TRAI to consider directions for proactive alerts. It includes Short Message Service (SMS) or flash SMS. These must be sent out to road users in accident-prone or hazard-identified areas.

The list of such stretches also includes locations affected by stray cattle movement and other road risks.

A low or absent network coverage on highway can hinder coordination between enforcement and support teams. This could also lead to complications in case of emergencies, putting lives at risk.

The push for improved connectivity comes as part of a broader effort to digitally enable transportation infrastructure and provide safer, risk-free travel for citizens.