Annual Report 2018-19 Bulock & Hand

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6.12 ROAD ENGINEERING MEASURES

(i) Identication and rectication of accident black spots
High priority has been accorded for identication and rectication of black spots (accidents
prone spots on National Highways). Concerted efforts towards improvement of road safety
through engineering measures on National Highways have been made. 789 black spots based
on fatalities in 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 calendar years have been identied and notied with
unique ID numbers assigned to each of the spots. Guidelines have been prepared and notied
for investigation and rectication of the road accident black spots on National highways. So
far 340 spots have already been rectied. Rectication measures at 273 spots have been
sanctioned which are in various stages of implementation. 139 spots are under State
Government /with other agencies. The balance 37spots would be taken up separately or
would be rectied as part of ongoing projects.
As investigation, design of rectication measures at the black spots is a time taking process, it
was decided to install immediate cautionary measures to alert and caution the road users
about the road accident black spot through signs, solar blinkers and speed reduction barriers
has been prepared and circulated. So far installation of crash barrier for length of 280 km has
been sanctioned. Measures till the black spots are rectied through long term permanent
measures.
Ministry has delegated powers to Regional Ofcers of MORTH for technical approval to the
detailed estimates for rectication of identied Road Accident black spots for expediting the
rectication process to ensure safety of road users.
(ii) Road Safety Audits
Detailed guidelines for taking up road safety audits on National Highways have been
prepared and notied. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning
stage itself. Road Safety Audits at different stages have been made part and parcel of all road
development projects on EPC and BOT modes.Ministry has issued circular which makes it
mandatory to carry out road safety audit for all new road projects having length of 5 Km or
more at the stage of Detail Project Report(DPR)/Engineering Design. Apart from this,
1382km of National Highways stretches have been sanctioned for taking up standalone road
safety audit for addressing the safety concerns on those stretches.
(iii) Installation of crash barriers
Ministry has taken up installation of crash barriers in hilly terrain on National Highways in
predominantly hilly States at accident prone locations. A report of different aspects of
identication of stretches and installation of selected type of crash barriers has been prepared
and circulated. So far installation of crash barrier for length of 280 km has been sanctioned.

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