‘Killer’ roads to turn safe, one by one

Friday, 4 June, 2010


In a move to make Indian roads get rid of the `killer' tag, the states will identify one stretch each that can be developed as a safe road with all features of a `forgiving road'. These stretches will be designed in such a manner that they have enough safety features which lessen the chances of accidents.

The concept of `forgiving roads' has gained popularity after Denmark introduced them to bring down its road fatalities drastically. `Forgiving roads' are designed in a manner that even in case of an accident less harm is caused to the victims.

"We have already prepared a list of mandatory engineering norms and measures to ensure road safety for all central and centrally-sponsored projects. Our partner in the campaign to reduce road accidents, International Road Federation (IRF), has asked every state to identify one stretch which is prone to accidents,'' road transport and highways secretary Brahm Dutt told TOI.

He said that one road per state could be taken up as a pilot project. After carrying out the road safety audit on these stretches, appropriate engineering measures will be evolved and estimates prepared. "We can provide budgetary assistance. IRF will also generate some portion of the fund required for this improvement work,'' Dutt said. IRF chief K K Kapila said that they were talking to the World Bank to assist in this task.

The ministry has also circulated a list of measures that state PWDs and NHAI have to adopt while designing and improving roads. Top ministry officials informed all the state PWD secretaries on Wednesday that they must adhere to these norms or else their proposals would be rejected.

"Earlier, the estimates submitted by state PWDs did not specify the expenses to be incurred on safety related issues. But now the proposals must include the detailed estimate. We will not process their cases unless these norms are followed,'' Brahm Dutt said.

As per the revised safety norms, all new and existing highways will have W-beam crash barriers at the edges of medians and along the corridor to minimise fatal accidents. Similarly, all these stretches will have the provision of segregating local traffic. The list of new norms includes illumination of highways in built-up areas with round-the-clock power supply.

The ministry circular says that road safety audit (RSA) be carried out at all stages of road development. "The RSA should identify the nature of accidents from the past data to recommend specific corrective measures. All these recommendations should be duly considered and implemented,'' it adds.

Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Killer-roads-to-turn-safe-one-by-one/articleshow/6008892.cms