A Peek into the City's Black Spots: Removing Danger Zones, Integrating Safety Measures
Improved road safety in Chandigarh: Elimination of two out of five hazardous areas identified.
Wanna know the latest scoop on the city's treacherous stretches? Here's a lowdown on the notorious black spots and the efforts being made to curb them.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a black spot is a 500-metre stretch where at least five accidents, resulting in fatalities or severe injuries, have occurred or ten fatalities have been reported in the last three years.
In a bit of good news for commuters, two notorious black spots—Transport Light Point in Sector 26 and Shastri Light Point in Manimajra—have been taken off the high-risk traffic zone list. However, the city still grapples with three black spots—Kalagram Light Point, Airport Light Point, and Poultry Farm Chowk, which have seen a combined total of 25 fatal mishaps in the last three years.
The city has been successful in reducing the number of black spots from 15 between 2016 to 2019, to five between 2021-23.
To bring down the accidents at the Transport light point, authorities tackled several issues, such as faded road markings, broken or missing signboards, and restricted heavy vehicles to the left side of Purv Marg in both directions, between Tribune Chowk and TPT light point, and from TPT light point to Dhillon barrier. This move has significantly improved road safety on this stretch.
At Shastri Nagar light point,tabletop crossings and rumble strips were installed on the slow carriageway, benefiting motorists.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP, traffic) Sumer Pratap Singh stated, "The removal of two black spots is a positive development. Our focus remains on eliminating risks at Kalagram, Airport Light Point, and Poultry Farm Chowk. Our teams are proposing solutions to handle the black spots and congestion in the city."
The Challenges at Kalagram Light Point:
At Kalagram Light Point, which has seen seven mishap deaths in the last three years, a significant issue is the absence of a separate cycling track near the petrol pump. Cyclists are forced to merge into fast-moving traffic due to this lack of infrastructure. Vehicles exiting the petrol station obstruct the left slip road by merging directly into the traffic lanes. Moreover, missing road markings are a common sight at several spots.
To address these concerns, engineers have suggested several short-term interventions, including the installation of rumble strips, refreshed road markings, and the extension of refuge islands. Additionally, a central median is proposed to restrict unauthorized movements, and chevron markings and hazard signboards are planned for long-term improvement. For a safer cycling infrastructure, a 2.5-meter-wide segregated pedestrian and cycle track, a slow carriageway, slip road widening, and a fourth arm at the intersection to connect to the railway Station and Panchkula has been recommended.
The Menace at Airport Light Point:
At the Airport Light Point, where road mishaps have claimed eight lives in the last three years, speeding, reckless driving, and drunken driving pose the most significant threats. The absence of retro-reflective markings, thermoplastic markings, road studs, and the proximity of local bus stops to service lane entries further exacerbate the issues. Engineers have recommended the installation of rumble strips on service lanes to address this. Long-term safety measures envisage the construction of an overbridge or underpass at the intersection, along with consecutive slow carriageways from the Airport Light Point to Hallomajra Light Point to ensure smoother traffic flow. Installation of a speed radar camera before Hallomajra, crash barriers along the service road, and grade separation for better commuter safety have also been proposed.
The Struggle at Poultry Farm Chowk:
Poultry Farm Chowk, located on the Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway No. 5, is another junction under pressure due to heavy vehicular movement, particularly by trucks and buses. This area has seen ten deaths in the last three years. Pedestrians and cyclists from nearby residential zones like Hallomajra and Industrial Area Phase 1 frequent the area but lack dedicated footpaths and cycle tracks. The entry to the slow carriageway towards Zirakpur is narrow, and the approach road from Hallomajra Light Point is constricted, with no traffic signals for pedestrians and cyclists, making it highly hazardous. Short-term remedial measures proposed for this junction include widening roads on all sides, a new exit point near the bus stop, and closure of the current Hallomajra exit point. A central verge leading towards Ramdarbar-2 should be shut to reduce congestion. Long-term solutions involve the construction of an underpass to manage traffic towards Hallomajra and Panchkula, as well as a new road connection from Labour Colony No. 4 to Panchkula to alleviate traffic at Poultry Farm Chowk.
Stay safe on the roads, folks!
- The black spot at Kalagram Light Point remains a concern due to the absence of a separate cycling track, forcing cyclists to merge with fast-moving traffic.
- At Airport Light Point, frequent road accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, drunken driving, and poor road markings, with long-term solutions including the construction of an overpass or underpass.
- Poultry Farm Chowk, another black spot, is plagued by heavy truck and bus traffic, lack of pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, and constricted roads, with long-term proposals including the construction of an underpass and a new road connection.
- In the finance industry, investments towards infrastructure development, particularly in road safety measures, can yield considerable returns in terms of reducing accidents and improving the standard of living.
- The general-news sector frequently covers stories related to accidents and black spots in transportation, highlighting the need for increased safety measures and infrastructure development in urban planning.
