The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Tradition has criticised the Ministry of Highway Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for the persistent existence of accident-prone “black spots” on nationwide highways (NHs), calling it a “important governance failure that straight interprets to preventable deaths.”
A black spot or hazardous location on a nationwide freeway is recognized primarily based on the incidence of a sure variety of accidents leading to fatalities and grievous accidents in three consecutive calendar years.
In a report launched lately on the Calls for for Grants for monetary 12 months 2025-26, the parliamentary panel stated there may be an pressing have to implement a three-tier prioritisation framework for the rectification of black spots on the premise of severity (frequency and affect of accidents), complexity of intervention required, and inhabitants publicity, i.e., the variety of folks doubtlessly affected.
“For rapid motion, the Ministry ought to undertake a rapid-response protocol for Class A (highest danger) black spots, with obligatory intervention inside 30 days of identification. This could embrace deployment of non permanent security measures whereas everlasting options are designed. For Class B and C black spots, the Ministry ought to set up 90-day and 180-day rectification deadlines respectively, with penalties for non-compliance by implementing companies,” stated the committee, which is headed by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha.
The committee additional emphasised the significance of evaluating the effectiveness of the applied options and really helpful that every rectified black spot ought to endure obligatory post-implementation security audits at 3- and 12-month intervals to make sure the effectiveness of interventions.
“Moreover, the Ministry ought to develop a public dashboard displaying the standing of all recognized black spots, rectification progress, and accountable authorities, enhancing transparency and accountability within the course of,” the panel stated in its report.
It additionally famous that throughout the course of the assembly held to debate the Calls for for Grants (2025-26), the Ministry reiterated its bold goal to scale back highway fatalities by 95 per cent by 2028. The Ministry stated {that a} key focus space can be the rectification of 1,000 accident-prone black spots in FY26, with a view to remove all recognized black spots by FY28 by way of scientific highway design, improved signage, and enhanced junction administration.
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Nonetheless, regardless of the Ministry’s dedication to lowering highway fatalities, the continued existence of those recognized hazard zones stays a serious concern.
In accordance with MoRTH information, out of the overall 13,795 black spots recognized on the NHs within the nation, long-term rectification has been accomplished on solely 5,036 black spots.
Measures reminiscent of highway markings, signages, crash boundaries, highway studs, delineators, closure of median openings, site visitors calming measures, and so on., are applied for the short-term rectification of black spots, in accordance with pointers issued by the federal government.
Lengthy-term measures reminiscent of enchancment of highway geometrics, junction enhancements, spot widening of carriageway, development of underpasses/overpasses, are taken for everlasting rectification of black spots.
Black Spots on Nationwide Highways
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| 12 months | No. of Black Spots Recognized | Brief-term Rectification | Lengthy-term Rectification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-18 | 5,352 | 5,305 | 2,724 |
| 2017-19 | 2,483 | 2,238 | 769 |
| 2018-20 | 1,898 | 1,518 | 580 |
| 2019-21 | 2,732 | 1,842 | 727 |
| 2020-22 | 1,330 | 612 | 236 |
| Whole | 13,795 | 11,515 | 5,036 |
Supply: Ministry of Highway Transport and Highways