The Haryana and Delhi sections of National Highway 44 (NH-44) have emerged as the most unsafe road stretches in the country, according to 2023 data. NH-44, India’s longest highway, runs from Srinagar to Kanyakumari. In 2023 alone, the 266-km stretch in Haryana witnessed 715 fatalities—an alarming average of nearly three deaths per kilometre. Similarly, Delhi’s 30-km stretch recorded 63 deaths, averaging two fatalities per kilometre.
NH-44, NH-48 Stretches Top List of India’s Most Accident-Prone Highways
The SaveLife Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under a signed MoU, analyzed government records and the new Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) to rank 100 of the country’s highway stretches. Based on the findings, the government and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have begun implementing corrective measures.
In Delhi, the accident-prone segments of NH-44 include Mukarba Chowk–Sanghu Border and Ashram–Badarpur Border. Additionally, the NH-48 stretch in Haryana—from Gurgaon to the Rajasthan border (85 km)—ranked as the third most dangerous, with over two deaths per kilometre.
Govt Launches Data-Driven Plan to Curb Highway Deaths in Crash-Prone Districts
Officials attribute the high accident rates to a lack of pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, especially in urban stretches. The presence of mixed traffic in city zones—ranging from heavy vehicles to vulnerable road users—exacerbates the risk. Authorities are now directing highway developers and operators to take targeted remedial actions using the refined data.
To further reduce crashes, the government has also launched the ‘Data Driven Hyperlocal Intervention’ (DDHI) program. It targets 100 districts across 18 states that report the highest number of road crashes. Maharashtra leads with 19 such districts, followed by Uttar Pradesh (18) and Karnataka (11). The initiative aims to deploy localised safety interventions based on data trends collected since 2021.
Summary:
The Haryana and Delhi stretches of NH-44 are India’s most dangerous highways, with 715 and 63 deaths respectively in 2023. A data-driven initiative using iRAD has prompted targeted safety measures. The government’s DDHI program also identifies 100 high-risk districts across 18 states to implement localized crash prevention strategies.
