Accidents Continue on Nangal–Ganguwal NH-503 Extension; Delay in Four-Lane Project Raises Safety Concerns
Bahadurjeet Singh/royalpatiala.in News/ Nangal, November 6,2025
A continuous rise in road accidents on the Nangal–Ganguwal section of National Highway Extension 503 has become a matter of serious concern for local residents. Due to the route still functioning as a two-lane highway, several spots along this stretch have turned into accident-prone black zones, where safety measures are insufficient. People are eagerly awaiting the day when the stretch is upgraded to a four-lane highway, hoping it will help put an end to the recurring tragedies. However, the pace of the project remains extremely slow.
In the latest incident, a Mahindra pickup driver, Ravi Kumar, son of Sukhdev, lost his life in a fatal accident late last night. The accident reportedly occurred around 3 a.m. when Ravi Kumar was returning from Nangal towards Ghanouli. As he approached the railway underpass near Kaletra, the vehicle became uncontrollable and crashed straight into the iron barriers. He was rushed to Nangal Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The vehicle was severely damaged. Police have initiated an investigation. The deceased was a resident of Ghanouli.
Notably, just three days ago on November 3, another serious accident took place at the same underpass, where five passengers travelling from Himachal to Delhi were critically injured. Similar accidents have frequently occurred in locations including Barhampur and Ajouli, yet adequate road safety measures have not been implemented. The road has several dangerous curves and slopes where reflectors, warning signage, protective railings, and speed-control systems are urgently required.
Local social organizations have raised this concern multiple times in written appeals to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, but tangible action is still awaited. Recently, instead of proper renovation, only patchwork repairs were carried out on the road, resulting in uneven surfaces that now act like speed breakers and further increase the risk of accidents.
Residents assert that unless the highway is upgraded to a four-lane standard and necessary safety measures are enforced without delay, the chain of accidents will continue, putting more lives at risk.
