Lok Sabha Question No. 2681 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Defects in NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2681 ANSWERED ON 22 ND  DECEMBER, 2022

## DEFECTS IN NHS

2681. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the number of road accidents has been increasing in the country in recent days and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  action  plan  in  this  regard  or proposes to identify the defects in the NHs;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the names of States which have implemented the said action plan along with the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)     As per the data received from police department of all States/UTs, the total number of road accidents in the country during the last five calendar years are given in the table below : -
- (b) to (d) Major initiatives taken by Ministry based on road engineering to improve Road Safety are as under : -
- (i) Ministry has issued guidelines for conduct of safety audits at all stages (design, construction, and operation).
- (ii)   Road safety audit policy has been issued by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on 27.05.2022 prescribing Audit requirements as per IRC guidelines in all phase of the project.
- (iii)  Road  safety  audit  is  an  integral  part  of  detailed  project  report (DPR) / feasibility study as per IRC guidelines and action is being taken by Ministry accordingly in all projects.
- (iv)  Third party independent road safety audit at DPR stage has been made mandatory by NHAI.
- (v)   Ministry, vide OM No. RW/NH-29011/2/2015/P&M (RSCE) dated 7th December  2015,  has  issued  guidelines  on  'Preparation  and submission  of proposals for rectification of identified road accident black spots on National Highways (NHs)'.
- (vi)  Ministry, vide circular no. RW/NH-29013/01/2020 - S&R dated 09th November  2020,  has  issued  Guidelines,  for  monitoring  of  and compliance of all safety and suggested procedures, to be followed for preparation of proposal for rectification of Black Spots.
- (vii) Ministry,  vide  letter  no. RW/NH-29011/01/2021-S&R  (P&B)  RSCE dated 9th Sept 2021, has also issued guidelines for taking advance action for removal of accident spots on NHs as per police reports without  waiting  for  converting  them  into  black  spots  after accidents/fatalities.
- (viii)Regular  review  meetings  are  conducted  by  senior  officers  of ministry with Regional/field officers of all road owning agencies related  to  NHs  to  formulate  action  plans  for  identification  and rectification  of  black  spots  and  accident  spots  with  a  targeted Timeline.

|   Year | Total Number of Road Accidents   |   % Increase/ Decrease |
|--------|----------------------------------|------------------------|
| 464910 | -                                |                   2017 |
| 467044 | 0.46                             |                   2018 |
| 449002 | -3.86                            |                   2019 |
| 366138 | -18.46                           |                   2020 |
| 412432 | 12.64                            |                   2021 |

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