Twenty-three road-accident-prone ‘black spots’ have been identified by the Traffic police across the city. The cops have suggested road correction measures to the authorities concerned to avoid mishaps on these spots. However, the corrective measures, including road repairs, illumination, installation of signals or painting of road stripes are yet to be taken up by the agencies. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Monday, conducted a review of corrective measures at road-accident-prone ‘black spots’ across Maharashtra and directed stakeholders to initiate corrective measures to reduce road fatalities. Senior police officials, officers of PWD, NHAI, District Administration from Nagpur city and District also attended the meeting.

 

 

According to sources, the Chief Minister expressed concern over soaring numbers of road fatalities in the State. “Maharashtra stands second, after Uttar Pradesh, in road fatalities in the country. Corrective measures to remove ‘black spots’ are needed on urgent basis and the stakeholders must work in tandem,” Shinde said in the meeting. A ‘black spot’ is a patch of 500 metres of the road on which five or more accidents with fatalities or grievous injuries have taken place in three years. A total of 18 fatal accidents occurred on 12 ‘black spots’ this year, so far. Also, the traffic police have identified 49 ‘hot spots’ in the city where 17 fatal and 16 major accidents have taken place this year. Seventeen persons were killed in the accidents on these spots. In Nagpur rural area, the police identified 36 places as ‘black spots’ last year. Of which, 29 were removed from the list after corrective measures. This year, 23 new spots in the districts have been added to the list in the district.