Over 13,700 'Black Spots' Identified on National Highways; Long-Term Rectification Completed On 5,036 Sites: Gadkari

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha that as many as 13,795 black spots have been identified on India's National Highways (NHs) based on accident reports with fatality and major injury.

Black spots are specific points which are prone to repeated and deadly road accidents, and the government is working on their rectification through a combination of short-term and long-term measures.

The minister said that theGovernment has taken steps for immediate short-term measures on such black spots like road markings, signages, crash barriers, road studs, delineators, closure of unauthorised median openings, traffic calming measures, etc.

Long-term measures like improvement of road geometrics, junction improvements, spot widening of carriageway, construction of underpasses/overpasses, are also taken on such black spots as permanent rectification measures, he added.

“Rectification of black spots is a continuous process and temporary measures are taken on immediate basis. Out of total 13,795 black spots identified on the NHs in the country, long-term rectification has been completed on 5,036 black spots,” the Minister stated in his written reply.

The blackspots are identified by the government based on the accident reports received from the concerned state governments, meeting the criteria of occurrence of certain number of accidents involving fatalities and grievous injuries.

In a significant institutional overhaul, the government has also set up the National Road Safety Council under the chairmanship of the Minister of Road Transport and Highways.

The official members of the council include Ministers-in-charge of Road Transport of all States/UTs and senior Officers from State/UTs, among others.

Besides, review meetings are held with the senior officers of States/ UTs from time to time.

In addition to improving road safety data management, the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) Project has been developed as a centralised system for reporting, managing, and analysing road accident data.

New guidelines were released by the Ministry in February 2024, for taking advance action for removal of accident spots on National Highways reported on e-DAR platform thereby enhancing real-time road safety measures.

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