NHAI On Mission To Rectify Mishap Spots To Boost Road Safety

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the central agency responsible for construction of high quality roads in the country, has launched an initiative to enhance road safety by issuing guidelines for rectifying accident-prone spots on National Highways through the implementation of short-term measures.

These measures include the installation of pedestrian facilities such as zebra crossings with advance warning signs, crash barriers, railings, junction improvements, solar lights/blinkers, road signages, and implementation of traffic calming measures, among others, according to an NHAI release.

As part of these guidelines, NHAI Project Directors have now been given the authority to undertake rectification of identified accident-prone spots recommended by the respective State police chiefs or the District Road Safety Committees, with a budget of up to Rs 10 lakh per spot.

Officials from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) explained that short-term measures exceeding Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 25 lakh will be delegated to the concerned regional office.

"These financial powers supplement the earlier guidelines issued by the NHAI, wherein Project Directors could approve rectification of black spots identified by the ministry through short-term measures, with a budget of up to Rs 25 lakh per black spot," they stated.

Additionally, the procurement for the necessary works can be combined for various accident spots within a single project.

While MoRTH notifies black spots on national highways based on defined parameters, NHAI has taken this proactive step to rectify accident-prone spots through short-term measures in addition to the black spots identified by MoRTH, with the aim of enhancing road safety and improving convenience for highway users.

"Improving safety measures on the National Highways is one of NHAI's top priorities, and the organization is committed to ensuring a safe, smooth and seamless travel experience for all commuters in the country," stated a MoRTH official.