Government in Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is primarily responsible for development, operation and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). Certain locations on NHs are identified as black spots based on occurrence of certain number of accidents involving fatalities and grievous injuries. Government has taken steps for immediate short-term measures on such black spots like road markings, signages, crash barriers, road studs, delineators, closure of unauthorized median openings, traffic calming measures, etc. Long-term measures like improvement of road geometrics, junction improvements, spot widening of carriageway, construction of underpasses/overpasses, etc. are also taken on such black spots as per site investigations as permanent rectification measures. A total of 13,795 black spots have been identified on the NHs, out of which short-term rectification measures have been completed on 9,525 black spots and permanent rectification have been completed on 4,777 black spots.

All road works are carried out as per standards, guidelines, manual, code of practice of Indian Roads Congress as well as specifications for Road and Bridge Works. Necessary road safety measures are taken during design, construction, operation and maintenance stages. Further, Guidelines have been issued for regular safety audit of all NHs at design, construction, pre-opening stage of NH projects as well as on existing NHs for ensuring road safety. In order to achieve desired quality of construction, measures have been taken like 100% checking of quality control tests by Authority Engineer in EPC contracts, quality checks on sample basis, strict implementation of contract/concession agreement provisions with respect to quality, penalizing the contractors and consultants for failure/defective works, etc.

This information was given by the The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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