Latest data presented in Parliament show that pothole-related fatalities across India increased from 1,555 in 2020 to 2,385 in 2024, reflecting a surge of more than 53% over five years. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 5,127 deaths over five years and 1,369 deaths in 2024 alone, constituting more than half the national toll. In 2024, the chief minister of the state ordered that all potholes should be filled by October of that year. The larger policy imbalance lies in public expenditure priorities. For 2025-26, safety expenditure stood at a few hundred crore against over Rs 2.7 lakh crore earmarked for highway development.

Source: The Telegraph February 16, 2026 03:05 UTC