Government issues direction for fixing 726 accident spots

NEW DELHI: Government has issued directions to concerned agencies for the rectification of 726 black spots, which cause a high number of accidents in the country.

"The road accident black spots are identified based on the number of fatalities. 726 road accident black spots are identified on National Highways based on 2011, 2012 and 2013 fatality data," Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

Rectification of these spots is being taken up as part of highway development projects separately, he said.

"Ministry issued guidelines/instructions to all the implementing agencies on investigation and rectification of these black spots," he said.

India accounts for about 5 lakh road accidents a year in which 1.5 lakh people die and 3 lakh are crippled.

Concerned over alarmingly high number of road accidents, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had recently said the government will spend Rs 11,000 crore over 5 years to fix "black" accident spots.

He had said: "Road accidents cause an annual loss of Rs 55,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore which amounts to 3 per cent of the GDP. It is saddening to see that mostly youth in the age bracket of 22-33 years lose their lives.

"To deal with such an alarming scenario, 726 black spots have been identified across the country."

In Delhi, some of the black spots - where up to 150 persons have lost lives - include Sarai Kale Khan, Kashmere Gate chowk (Morigate), Nigam Bodh Ghat, Mukundpur Chowk, Dr Bhahbha Marg crossing, Punjabi Bagh Chowk, ISBT Kashmere Gate, Mahipalpur Flyover, Shani Mandir and Shahdara Flyover.