Govt to spend Rs 11,000 cr to fix black accident spots: Gadkari

Concerned over alarmingly high number of 5 lakh annual road accidents in the country, the Centre on Monday said the government will spend Rs 11,000 crore over 5 years to fix "black" accident spots.

"Road accidents cause an annual loss of Rs 55,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore which amounts to 3 per cent of the GDP. To deal with such an alarming scenario, 726 black spots have been identified across the country on national highways," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters here.

The ministry will spend Rs 11,000 crore over 5 years to fix these accident spots by correcting road design, addressing engineering issues and building underpasses and flyovers.

Gadkari said work on 10 black spots in Delhi began on Monday and some of these are such where up to 150 persons have lost their lives. These spots include Sarai Kale Khan, Kashmere Gate chowk (Morigate), Nigam Bodh Ghat, Mukundpur Chowk, Dr Bhahbha Marg crossing, Punjabi Bagh Chowk, ISBT Kashmere Gate, Mahipalpur Flyover, Shani Mandir and Shahdara Flyover.

He also appealed to states to correct such spots in State Highways as well as municipal and district roads, saying that his ministry was contemplating approaching Finance Ministry for some assistance to states from the Centre under the Central Road Cess.

He said up to 30 pilot projects have been initiated to bring reforms in driving licence system and computerised driving tests will become mandatory.