NHAI identifies 18 accident prone areas in NH 2, 34, 6

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has identified 18 accident prone areas termed ‘black spots’ along National Highways 2, 34 and 6. Special measures will be taken to intensify vigil in these areas.

A survey conducted by NHAI stated that 170 road accidents had taken place in these areas in the past one year.

A high-level meeting between senior officials of NHAI and their counterparts in state police was held recently.

The steps have been taken after Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee  had a providential escape after his car hit a milk van on Durgapur Expressway off Singur on October 18. Following the incident, the state government wrote to NHAI authorities requesting them to take steps to stop illegal parking of trucks along the National Highways.

It was decided in the meeting that the traffic signals situated near the ‘black spots’ will be upgraded and CCTV cameras will be installed. Special units will be kept near the ‘black spots’ and in case of any accident they will reach the spot at the earliest.

The unit will also look into whether vehicles have been parked along the road flouting traffic laws.

NHAI officials alleged that the drivers did not obey their employees who had failed to get police assistance.

The state government has assured NHAI that henceforth they will receive full cooperation from the local police stations.

The NHAI survey found that at Salap off Domjur under National Highway 6, 21 road accidents had taken place in one year.

This is followed by Airport gate on Jessore Road along National Highway 3, where 19 accidents have taken place in one year. At Girja More on National Highway 34, 16 road accidents had taken place in one year.

The other ‘black spots’ along NH 2 are Paraj More (registered 9 accidents) Galsi More (7 accidents), Galigram More (8 accidents), Andal More (13 accidents) with Kajora More, Gandhi More, FCI crossing registering 8 accidents each.

On National Highway 34, the ‘black spots’ have been identified. They are Girja More (16 road accidents), Dhubulia Bazaar (10 road accidents), Bethiaduhari (10 accidents), Jugpur (8 road accidents) and Madhyagram Choumatha (12 accidents).

In National Highway 6, Pakuria in Domjur (recorded 12 accidents),Dhulagarh (10 road accidents) and Lachmapur (5 accidents).

It was decided that the police patrolling will be intensified. It has been decided that both police and NHAI authorities will intensify vigil in these areas to reduce the number of accidents.

Meanwhile, a cyclist was killed while two others were critically injured when a bus hit them from behind on VIP road near Kestopur connector on Saturday evening.

The accident occurred when the bus on Ultadanga Madhymgram route lost control in a bid to overtake another bus moving in the same direction hit the cyclist killing him on the spot. Two other passers-by received critical injuries and were admitted to a private hospital.

Both the errant drivers fled the spot leaving the vehicles behind. The local people put up a road block demanding action against the drivers who have a tendency to accelerate.