The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suspended a Project Director after reversing its earlier stand on a controversy over faulty rumble strips at a median opening near Prathvipura village on National Highway-25 in Rajasthan. The action came after several users on X shared visuals from the site, challenging the highway authority’s initial claim that reports on the issue were misleading.
The controversy escalated when users pointed out that the images shared by NHAI to counter the reports were not from the same spot but from a different location altogether, prompting accusations that the official had misrepresented the ground situation.
Following a detailed review, NHAI acknowledged that there had been incorrect reporting by the concerned official on social media, placed the Project Director under suspension, and said corrective measures were being undertaken at the site to ensure it conforms to prescribed road safety standards.
“As reported by some sections of the media regarding construction of rumble strips at the median opening near Prathvipura village on NH-25 in Rajasthan, NHAI would like to inform that the media reportage does not depict the actual condition of the section. The construction of rumbling strips is being carried out at the request of the local public representative to enhance the safety of both National Highway users and the residents of the village,” the authority had said in a post on X on Monday morning.
The post added, “NHAI appreciates the valuable feedback received from the Highway users and remains committed to ensure a safe travel experience for all commuters.”
The issue first came to light after reports highlighted the construction of rumble strips at a median opening on NH-25, raising concerns over road safety.
NHAI had initially dismissed the reports, maintaining that the reports did not accurately depict the condition of the stretch and that the rumble strips had been constructed at the request of a local public representative to enhance safety for both highway users and nearby residents.
However, the explanation failed to convince many social media users, who continued posting photographs and videos from the site, showing that the visuals shared by NHAI were from a different location and did not address the reported problem.
One user commented, “It’s not the same place. You think we’re stupid or something?” Another pointed out, “It’s not just another angle but the opposite lane altogether. We have a divider in between, so the speed breakers will also be different. Clearly, misinformation has been shared by NHAI.”
A third user wrote, “So you are saying this video is a lie?” Another user mocked the authority’s response by writing, “If that’s a rumble strip, then this is a Maruti Alto,” while posting a picture of a Tata Signa truck.
As criticism mounted, NHAI issued a fresh statement admitting that there had been incorrect reporting on social media by the concerned official.
“NHAI would like to inform that, following a detailed review of the matter, the concerned Project Director has been placed under suspension for wrong reporting in social media on rumble strips,” the authority said.
It added that necessary corrective measures were being undertaken to ensure the stretch fully complies with prescribed road safety standards.
“NHAI remains committed to the highest standards of safety and quality on the National Highway network and values the constructive feedback received from National Highway users,” the authority said in its latest statement.
The episode has sparked debate over accountability in official communication, with many on social media pointing to the gap between NHAI’s initial denial and its subsequent admission of incorrect reporting.
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