Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rajesh Sharma, today chaired a meeting to review identified black spots on the National Highway passing through the district and to finalise a comprehensive proposal for submission to higher authorities seeking necessary intervention from stakeholders, including the National Highways Authority of India.
The meeting was informed that a detailed on-ground inspection and technical assessment of accident-prone locations has been undertaken along the 39-kilometre stretch of the National Highway within the district. The exercise focused on identifying structural gaps, traffic management steps and other vulnerabilities contributing to road mishaps.
The committee members highlighted critical locations witnessing frequent accidents, particularly at cross sections, junctions, link roads, tunnels, merging points and high-speed corridors. Emphasis was laid on traffic channelisation, installation of crash barriers and ensuring adequate lighting at vulnerable spots.
Deliberations were held on short-term measures such as installation of retro-reflective signages, road markings, speed calming interventions, caution boards and improving visibility at blind curves. Long-term engineering solutions, including geometric corrections, widening of bottlenecks, construction of service lanes, strengthening of shoulders and redesigning of intersections, were also discussed.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned departments to compile field inputs, technical observations and photographic documentation into a detailed, time-bound proposal for submission to higher authorities to facilitate approval and execution of major corrective works by the National Highways Authority of India.
He further stressed close coordination among PWD, Traffic Police, Transport Department and National Highway representatives to ensure immediate implementation of feasible safety measures, alongside continuous monitoring of identified black spots to assess reduction in accident rates.
Pertinently, a committee headed by the Superintending Engineer, PWD Kathua, with members including the Regional Transport Officer, District Traffic Inspector and representatives of the National Highways Authority of India, has been constituted to examine the black spots and recommend remedial measures to substantially curb road accidents along the National Highway stretch falling within the district.