India, April 2 -- A total of 59 instances of major deficiencies in national highway construction including cave-in have been reported from across the country since 2019-20, union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to a question on the expansion of the national highways and the efforts to maintain quality, Gadkari said all efforts are made to ensure that the National Highways (NHs) are constructed as per stipulated quality standards.

According to data tabled by the minister, Maharashtra reported 16 instances of deficiencies in the national highways, followed by 11 in Rajasthan and 7 in Uttar Pradesh.

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