The Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that all national highways will soon carry information boards with QR codes. When scanned, these QR codes will show details of the contractor, project officials, cost, and emergency contacts.

This will make those responsible for building and maintaining roads more accountable and allow citizens to easily report issues such as potholes or damaged stretches.

How the new system will work

The announcement was made at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event in New Delhi. Each highway project will now have an information board with a QR code. When a person scans the code using a smartphone, they will be able to see:

  • Name and phone number of the contractor

  • Contact details of the engineer and project manager

  • Total project cost and ministry details

  • Helpline numbers for emergencies or complaints

  • Contact information for maintenance firms

Explaining the need for accountability, Gadkari said, “Why should I solely take the blame for all roads? From now on, every bad road will show the precise officials, contractors, and consultants involved.”

He also reminded that contractors must maintain roads for at least ten years after construction, and any repair costs during that period must be paid by them.

This new policy grew out of strong public demand for transparency. Earlier this year, Bengaluru entrepreneur Anuradha Tiwari went viral online after questioning why small products have detailed labels but road projects worth crores do not.

She wrote, “If a ₹5 biscuit can show all its details, why not a ₹100 crore road?”

Her post sparked discussions across social media. Many citizens supported her idea of making road information easily accessible.

After the announcement, she called the decision a “big win” for people seeking better accountability.

India has been facing a serious road safety problem. In just the first half of 2025, more than 26,000 people died on national highways, according to government data. Experts and activists have often blamed poor road quality and delayed repairs for accidents and injuries.

India’s road network is expanding rapidly, and the Ministry collects about ₹55,000 crore every year from toll and other road revenues. However, ensuring that money is used properly remains a challenge.

With QR codes making officials and contractors identifiable, the government hopes that road work quality will improve and complaints will be quicker to resolve.

This announcement has been welcomed widely. Many people online called it a “citizen-powered victory.” Infrastructure agencies and private contractors also reacted positively, though some raised concerns about handling public access to contact details.

Officials say the step will push everyone involved, contractors, engineers, and consultants, to meet quality standards and fix problems faster.

By linking each highway stretch to a digital record, the government hopes to make the entire system more open and answerable. It also shows how public voices can influence policy, especially when concerns are raised thoughtfully and widely.

The initiative is expected to be rolled out nationwide in the coming months.