New Delhi: Following widespread protests against the implementation of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 and criticisms over the faulty roads, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has asked the state governments to identify black spots on roads and fix a timeline to repair them.
In a letter issued to the state governments, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Chief Engineers of Public Works department and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the ministry has emphasised on making road safety the prime agenda of the institutions.
According to sources, the ministry has asked the state governments to prepare short term and long term plans to mitigate the black spots. It further stated that the authorities must lay out plans to improve the solar powered street lights, traffic lights, zebra crossings and potholes on the roads. The state governments and other authorities have been asked to fix a timeline to complete the task and also asked for monitoring the roads.
The Union government also allowed the state governments to use Central Reserve Fund for completion of the task.
It has been stated in the letter that based on site inspection, preliminary survey etc, the type of interventions required may be identified and accordingly the action for taking corrective measures, short-term and long term measures may be initiated at the regional office level.
A black spot is defined as a stretch of not more than 500 metres in length where five accidents have taken place or where 10 fatalities have happened in three years.
Sources said the decision has been taken to reduce the number road accidents. The ministry has also asked the authorities to monitor whether the accidents have been declined or not.