History informs us that the roads are the pathways for a society to progress. Even in ancient times all the civilizations starting from the Indus Valley to the Romans were famous for their roads. For India to transit from the status of a ‘developing nation’ to the ultimate goal of a ‘developed nation’ proper roads are going to be crucial. Indian roads are infamous among foreign tourists for their traffic, poor maintenance, and prone to accidents. Here are some facts about India’s most accident-prone roads.
Delhi – Kolkata Highway
The busiest national highway spreads over 1,465 km and runs through multiple states. It connects Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It is infamous for having 59 black spots, the most in the country.
Delhi – Mumbai Highway
With 45 black spots, the National Highway – 8 traversing from Delhi to Mumbai claims the second spot on the list. It connects the cities – Delhi, Faridabad, Jaipur, Vadodara, and Mumbai. The 230 km stretch between Delhi and Jaipur is one of the deadliest in the entire country according to the records of National Highway Authority of India. On an average, it claims around 200 deaths every year.
Nongstoin – Sabroom Highway
The National Highway – 44 which flows from Nongstoin to Sabroom connect the states Meghalaya, Assam, and Tripura. With a length of 723 kilometres, it has 38 dangerous spots.
Thane – Chennai Highway
The Thane – Chennai Highway also known as National Highway – 4 recorded the most fatalities in 2015. Covering a distance of 1,235 kilometres, it connects Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Chennai. It has 27 black spots.
Chennai – Theni Highway
The National Highway – 45 which connects from Chennai to Theni has 24 black spots. Most of the people who suffered from accidents due to this dangerous highway are the villagers residing in the bordering villages. With the absence of any subway or foot over-bridge, it is always a risky venture for the villagers to try crossing this highway.
Hopefully, the situation changes and the government takes the necessary steps at least reduce the black spots on these highways. The construction of over foot-bridges and subways will also save precious human lives.
