Gahlot: Traffic black spots claimed 86 lives in 2017

New Delhi: As many as 86 people lost their lives and 131 got injured in road accidents at 10 “black spots” on the city roads last year, the Delhi government has informed the Delhi Assembly.

“Black spots”, identified by the Delhi traffic police, are locations on roads that record three fatal or more than 10 non-fatal accidents in a year.

In reply to a question, transport minister Kailash Gahlot told the House last week that 166 accidents were reported from 10 identified “black spots” on the city roads in 2017. Among them, accidents at the Mukundpur Chowk claimed 11 lives, 10 lives were lost at the Jahangirpuri Bus stand, and nine each at the Azadpur Chowk and Bhalswa Chowk.

The agencies concerned including the civic bodies should  undertake necessary measures to repair these spots, he said.

Mr Gahlot added that the government had last year decided to come up with a road-safety policy and its draft has been sent to the stakeholders inviting suggestions from them.

He further said eight deaths each occurred in accidents at Burari Chowk, Birtannia Chowk, Siraspur, Shani Mandir (NH-1) and the Delhi Gate “black spots”.

Also, seven people were killed in accidents at Shahdara flyover, the minister said.

According to the police data, the Mukundpur Chowk witnessed 26 accidents last year, followed by Burari Chowk (23), Jahangirpuri Bus stand, Azadpur Chowk, and Delhi Gate (19 each).

The transport  minister said that according to the Delhi traffic police, a total of 1,584 people were killed in 6,673 road accidents in the the capital in 2017.