Patna: The Bihar government has reported significant progress in its efforts to reduce road accidents, with 285 dangerous black spots identified statewide over the past three years, and most of them now repaired. Officials say the intervention is part of a wider strategy to bring down fatalities on national and state highways.
Black spots refer to road segments with a high incidence of accidents and fatalities, often linked to sharp curves, poor road design, inadequate lighting, or repeated crash patterns. Grey spots typically indicate areas with serious injuries but fewer deaths.
Data from the transport department shows that the Road Construction Department rectified 93 out of 96 black spots in 2022, 92 out of 96 in 202,3, and 42 out of 93 so far in 2024. The remaining 58 locations are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
National highways have also undergone extensive improvements. The National Highways Authority of India has identified 260 black spots based on Ministry of Road Transport and Highways standards, all of which have now been fixed. A further 563 black spots marked under state norms have been addressed, with work progressing on the outstanding 16 sites.
While no black spots have been detected on rural roads, the Rural Works Department has identified six grey spots in Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Buxar, and Kaimur districts. All have since been repaired and reopened to traffic.
Transport minister Shravan Kumar said the government remained committed to reducing accident rates. He added that corrective measures were being carried out continuously and that newly identified high-risk locations would be repaired without delay.
