181 accident-prone 'black spots' in city, up from 57 in 2009

Lucknow: City roads have become deadlier over the past few years in terms of accidents. The number of accident-prone spots in Lucknow has grown to 181 from the 57-odd black spots till 2009-10. On an average, in 42% cases of road accidents, victims bleed to death on city roads.
Data shows that between 2009 and 2013, 39 people were killed and 19 maimed in 60 accidents in Gomtinagar.
Old and congested city areas like Wazirganj and Thakurganj together have nine accident-prone spots. More than 30 people have been killed and more than 100 injured at these spots in the past five years.
"We have identified two types of black spots in Lucknow, those that lie on national highways, and others within the city," said a road safety committee official in the transport department.
The road safety committee, on the basis of data compiled on accidents and casualties between 2009 and 2013, has identified spots for rectification.
Roads in predominantly residential areas like Aashiana and Bazaar Khala, which are nowhere close to a highway, are no less dangerous. On Bangla Bazaar bridge in Aashiana, seven persons were killed and 32 injured in 23 accidents between 2009 and 2013.
Faulty road engineering and complete lack of knowledge of traffic rules are the two main reasons that the committee says have resulted in increase in the number of deaths in road accidents.
"PWD, besides rectifying the engineering part, has to also put up sign-boards on roads explaining traffic rules," said sources in the committee.
The stretch between Kamta and Matiyari crossing in Chinhat on National Highway-28 is the most fatal accident spot in Lucknow. In the past five years, in 60% cases of road accidents there, victims have died on the spot. It is one of the 10 most accident-prone black spots in Lucknow.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up the rectification of black spots on NHs passing through the city.
All over the state, 1,250 black spots have been identified. At least 85 black spots in Azamgarh, Kushinagar, Aligarh, Etah, Hathras and Kasganj have been rectified. In Lucknow, PWD is working on the project.
This year, the state government has sanctioned Rs 6 crore under the road safety fund for rectification of black spots for the entire state. Districts that submit their rectification plan will be given the funds.