PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Public Works Department (PWD) has identified 179 accident black spots across the State, of which 169 have been rectified, while corrective work is pending at 10 locations. Stating this on Wednesday, the engineer-in-chief, PWD, Rajesh Chandra Sharma said that they are now working on digitally mapping the accident-prone stretches and marking them on Google Maps to alert motorists before they approach the vulnerable spots.
As per the department data, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) accounts for the highest number of identified black spots at 88, with 83 rectified and five pending. The NHAI has identified 44 spots, of which 39 have been rectified and five remain pending, Sharma said.
He added that the PWD has identified 41 black spots, all of which have been rectified. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has three, while NHIDCL, VNEL and PMGSY have identified one each, with all of these spots rectified.
Dehradun has the highest number of black spots in the state at 57, of which 54 have been rectified and three remain pending. Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar have 40 black spots each, with 38 rectified in both districts, he said.
Nainital has 17 identified black spots, of which 14 have been rectified and three remain pending. Most other districts have completed corrective works at their identified black spots.
The Mohabbewala and Asharodi stretches in Dehradun remain a particular concern due to recurring accidents, increased heavy-vehicle movement and speeding following the construction of the Expressway. Under the proposed digital mapping initiative, motorists would receive advance alerts on Google Maps while approaching identified black spots, allowing them to reduce speed and exercise greater caution.
The officials hope that the technology-based warning system, along with physical corrective measures, would help reduce accidents on Uttarakhand’s accident-prone roads.
