A 12-hour traffic jam on National Highway-130 in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district has led to punitive action against the highway maintenance agency and legal proceedings against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The traffic disruption occurred on October 12 near Madanpur Ghat after a moving trailer collided with another trailer that had broken down and was stationary on the road. The accident brought traffic on the Bilaspur-Ambikapur route to a standstill, leaving long queues of vehicles stranded for hours.
Following an inquiry, NHAI imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on M/s Ravindra, the agency responsible for highway operation and maintenance, citing negligence during relief and recovery operations. Separately, police filed a complaint against NHAI in the Katghora court over alleged non-cooperation during the emergency.
According to SDOP Vijay Singh Rajput, the collision occurred when a trailer heading towards Ambikapur rammed into a broken-down trailer bound for Katghora.
The investigation found several shortcomings in the response. The maintenance agency’s project manager was absent from the site, while efforts to clear the wreckage were delayed due to the non-availability of a crane operator and insufficient fuel for recovery equipment. Authorities also noted that assistance was not provided promptly despite repeated calls to the 1033 highway helpline.
NHAI said the lapses violated highway patrolling and emergency response standards, leading to the Rs 10 lakh penalty. Police have meanwhile sought legal action, alleging failure to cooperate during the prolonged traffic crisis.
