Public Works Minister Thakur Gulab Singh claimed that department has spend about Rs. 60 crore on improvement of ‘black spots’ along all major State Roads and National Highways, so as to ensure safety of the commuters besides making driving a delighting experience in the State. Minister said it in the meeting with the senior officers of the PWD. Thakur Gulab Singh said that Rs. 25 crore was being spent during the current year and an amount of Rs. 35 crore would be spent during the next year on improvement of accident prone ‘black spots’. He said that target has been fixed to improve 170 ‘black spots’ in the State during the current financial year, out of which 92 ‘black spots’ have been improved. He said that target has been fixed to improve 192 ‘black spots’ during the next financial year. He said that these ‘black sports’ were being improved by widening sharp curves, improving and widening narrow road stretches, installing concrete parapets or by installing steel crash barriers.
Public Works Minister said that target had been fixed to improve 180 black spots along National Highways during the current financial year, out of which 133 black spots have been improved till date and work has been expedited to complete construction of remaining crash barriers. He said that the State Government would take up the matter with the Centre Government to provide financial support for erecting steel crash barrier on the accident prone spots along side national highways. He said that over 29 kms steel crash barrier had been installed on 25 identified ‘black spots’ along National Highways in the State.
While expressing grief over the bus accident which was on its way to Bandla village near Bilaspur yesterday, Thakur Gulab Singh said that crash barriers would also be installed between Barmana to Salapar in Bilaspur district and Jalor to Harabag in Mandi for safety of the commuters. He said that reflectors and reflector strips would also be installed to guide the drivers at night and during fog on strategic points. He said that reflector strips would also be installed on parapets and steel crash barriers. He said that special care would be taken for improving slushy road stretches along major State roads and National Highways. He said that besides constructing concrete roads, proper cross drainage would also be provided on such road stretches so that the commuters do not face any inconvenience.
Public Works Minister said that way-side amenities would also be developed along the National Highways, State Highways and other major district roads. He said that these include food courts, small markets, repair workshops and toilets etc. He said that these way side amenities would be developed jointly with the Public Works Department, Tourism Department and the respective District Administration. He said that the Department had also identified some abandoned road stretches which could be immediately utilized for creating of wayside amenities. Ajay Mittal, Principal Secretary, Public Works apprised the Minister regarding progress in various road projects being executed in the State. N.L.Sharma, Engineer-in-chief, Pradeep Chauhan, Chief Engineer-cum-Project Director, State Road Project, Sonam Negi, Chief Engineer, National Highways, D.R.Chaudhary, Chief Engineer, South Zone and other senior officers of the Department attended the meeting.
