Aimed at curbing an alarmingly high number of road accidents in the national capital, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has called for a dedicated Road Safety Cell in the state PWD that will focus on improving engineering and traffic management, especially at identified black spots.
The call "comes in the context of a report prepared by the India Chapter of International Road Federation in which it has proposed certain simple engineering and traffic management improvements at moderate investments at ten major black spots in Delhi", the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said in a statement.
Road safety has been made an integral part of road designing, and all state governments have been asked to have dedicated Road Safety Cells in their respective Public Works Departments.
"In a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has urged him to get the report of IRF examined and send relevant proposals to the Road Transport & highways Ministry for financing," the statement said.
The identified black spots in Delhi include Sarai Kale Khan, Mori Gate, Nigam Bodh Ghat, Mukhandpur Chowk, Dr Bhabha Marg Crossing, Punjabi Bagh Chowk, ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Mahipalpur Flyover, Shani Mandir and Shahdara flyover.
"These spots have together recorded 245 accidents last year, in which 203 persons were injured while 84 lost their lives," the statement said.
In its report, the IRF has suggested features like footpaths, traffic islands, channelisation of traffic, signalisation and provision of road signs and pavement markings to make these spots safer for traffic.
He has further mentioned that the Ministry will soon launch a national initiative to remove black spots and proposals from Delhi can be accommodated therein.
The Ministry has already expressed its commitment to reducing fatalities due to road accidents to 50 per cent by 2020.
As part of the efforts, 789 black spots have been identified across the country which recorded repeated accidents/fatalities and steps are being taken to rectify engineering defects at such spots at a cost of Rs 11,000 crore.
India accounts for as high as 5 lakh road accidents per annum in which 1.5 lakh people die and another 3 lakh are crippled.