The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced that the completion timeline for NH48 is set for April 30, 2025. However, this announcement comes amidst rising concerns about the safety of motor vehicles and passengers travelling on this highway. One primary concern is the increased height of the road by 1.5 feet due to white topping, a process of road concreting. Despite this change, the height of the safety barriers has not been adjusted accordingly, raising fears about the effectiveness of these barriers in preventing accidents.

Reports indicate that since the initiation of the roadwork, at least 40 individuals have lost their lives on NH48. In response to these concerns, Suhas Shetty, project director of the NH48 project, said, “Plans to enhance safety measures are in progress, although they are currently only on paper. Installation of metal rods across the stretch of highway over the current barriers has been approved, and work will commence soon.”