NEW DELHI: Lack of mobile network coverage on highway and expressway stretches is not only causing inconvenience to commuters but is also a concern for NHAI as cellular connectivity gaps affect emergency communication to responders – such as ambulance services and patrol vehicles – in case of an incident.Flagging this, NHAI has urged telecom regulator TRAI to direct operators to improve mobile network connectivity on these sections. The authority has identified 424 such “telecom black spots” covering around 1,750km and has shared this with TRAI.TOI has learnt that NHAI chairman Satosh Kumar Yadav, in a letter to TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, pointed out that no mobile network is adversely impacting highway operations, coordination with field units and enforcement agencies.Officials said missing mobile network is more prevalent on greenfield highways and expressways, and remote sections, including stretches of Delhi-Mumbai and Bengaluru-Chennai expressways. For instance, data shared with TRAI mentions how three stretches of Delhi-Mumbai expressway passing through Ratlam (approx 69km) has no mobile network. Similarly, the entire 51km stretch between Harda and Betul in Madhya Pradesh has no network. The list of missing mobile networks include nearly 15km of Bengaluru-Chennai expressway, 17km of Tambaram-Tindivanam section in TN, 11.8km of Warangal-Khammam section in Andhra, 10.8km of Mumbai-Vadodara expressway in Thane.NHAI has also identified around 1,665 accident-prone locations due to stray cattle movement across NHs and expressways. Officials said it has also taken up this with TRAI and proposed proactive SMS and flash SMS alerts at geo-mapped accident-prone zones, including stretches affected by stray cattle movement and other hazards.”Alerts are intended to reach users approximately 15 minutes in advance as they approach such locations. NHAI has urged TRAI to issue directions to telecom operators to facilitate these alerts free of cost, purely in the interest of road user safety. This will save several lives,” said an official.
