Road Transport & Highways Ministry has identified 5,803 blackspots on National Highways : Gadkari

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Transport Research Wing (TRW),  Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has collected the Blackspot data from States/UTs based on their assessment and forwarded it to the agencies concerned NHAI, NHIDCL, and DG Roads for further action.

Road Accident black spot is a stretch of National Highway of about 500m in length in which either 5 road accidents involving fatalities/ grievous injuries) took place during the last 3 calendar years or 10 fatalities took place during the last 3 calendar years.

The Ministry has identified 5,803 blackspots on National Highways based on accident and fatality data of year 2015-2018 in 30 states/UTs. Out of 5,803 Blackspots, temporary measures have been taken on 5,167 blackspots. A total of 2,923 Blackspots have been permanently rectified. This information was given by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, according to a PIB release.

The Ministry is taking following steps to rectify blackspots:

• Blackspots are being rectified by immediate short term measures such as cautionary road signs and markings, transverse bar markings, rumble strips and solar blinkers etc.
• For long term rectification, measures such as Flyover, Underpasses, Footover Bridges, Service roads etc. are being provided wherever required.
• Each blackspot location is being inspected by Road Safety Officers of Regional Offices, Project Director of Concerned PIU and Road Safety Expert of the Independent Engineers (IE)/ Authority’s Engineers (AE) /Safety Consultants and recommend the mitigation measures. Based on which approval is being granted by the Regional Officer.
• NHAI had issued comprehensive guidelines on preparation of proposal, granting sanctions and execution of work for rectification of blackspots vide circular no. 1.1.31/2019 dated December 19, 2019. Under these guidelines, Regional Officers have been delegated financial power of up to Rs. 50 crore for rectification of blackspots including land acquisition without sending files to HQ for approval.
• Traffic calming measures such as traffic warning signs, delineators, road studs, bar markings, humps at approach roads, etc. are taken on vulnerable sections of National Highways to reduce road accident fatalities.
• For rectification of blackspots, progress of rectification is being monitored at NHAI HQ and Ministry through regular meetings.

The emergency / medical facilities for the road  accident victims are provided as per the respective contract / concession  agreements signed between NHAI and the contractor / concessionaire. Generally, as part of incident management under operation and maintenance of the NH stretches, assistance in case of emergency / accident on National Highways is extended through ambulances stationed near the toll plazas so that victim can be transported to the nearest appropriate hospital/medical facility run by the State Govt. / Private Entities.

In addition to above, NHAI has recently signed contract agreements  for supply, operation, and maintenance of 126 AIS-125 compliant Basic Life Support ambulances across NHs in the country.

Total Number of Road Accidents on National Highways*: 2018 to 2020