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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has drawn sharp criticism after it appeared to shift blame onto the public for a 40-hour-long traffic jam on the Indore–Dewas stretch of the Agra–Mumbai National Highway in Madhya Pradesh — a gridlock that claimed three lives.
During a hearing in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the NHAI's legal counsel reportedly said, "Why do people even leave home so early without any work?" The comment came while the court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation related to the massive jam, as reported by NDTV.
The remark has stunned many, coming in the wake of severe congestion caused by unfinished roadworks, which left commuters stranded for nearly two days in the sweltering heat. Among those who died were Kamal Panchal (62) of Indore, Balram Patel (55) of Shujalpur, and Sandeep Patel (32) from Gari Pipalya village.
According to reports, Kamal Panchal suffered a fatal heart attack after being stuck in the heat without ventilation. In another tragic case, Balram Patel's nephew said the family was out on the road trying to save him — he later died while still caught in the jam.
The Indore bench of the high court, comprising Justices Vivek Rusia and Binod Kumar Dwivedi, has issued notices to the NHAI, the Central government, the Indore district administration, and the police. All have been asked to submit responses by July 7.
The court also noted that it had previously instructed NHAI to complete a diversion road by September 2024, granting a four-week window. Yet, as of June 2025, the work remains incomplete. NHAI has blamed the delay on a 10-day crusher unit strike, but the court reminded them that they had already been granted three to four months for the task.
With three lives lost and a highway still in disrepair, the NHAI's remark — "Why do people even leave home so early without any work?" — has sparked outrage.