Visakhapatnam: The Centre has informed Lok Sabha that 384 black corridor stretches have been identified on national highways in Andhra Pradesh based on accident data compiled between 2023 and 2025.
East Godavari district accounted for the highest number with 46 stretches, followed by Anakapalli with 33, SPSR Nellore 31, Srikakulam 30, Kakinada 28, Krishna 25, NTR 24, and Visakhapatnam with 23 corridors. Other districts with significant numbers of these accident-prone corridors include Vizianagaram (13), Prakasam (12), Tirupati (12), Chittoor (11), Annamayya (9), Kurnool (8), West Godavari (7), Palnadu (7), Konaseema (6), Sri Sathya Sai (6), Nandyal (4), Bapatla (3), Anantapur (2) and YSR Kadapa (2).
Some of these stretches span district boundaries, such as Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Konaseema, Krishna, Eluru, and NTR, and Krishna.
These corridors have been identified using artificial intelligence-based tools developed by IIT-Kanpur, drawing on data from the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) system. Nationwide, there are 6,358 black corridor stretches.
Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari, in a written reply to Nellore MP Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy, stated that rectification of these black corridors is an ongoing process.
Short-term measures include road markings, signages, crash barriers, road studs, delineators, closure of unauthorised median openings, traffic-calming measures, and highway lighting. Long-term interventions involve improving road geometry and junctions, widening carriageways, and constructing underpasses or overpasses, depending on site requirements.
The ministry noted that long-term works often require land acquisition, forest clearances, and utility shifting, which can delay rectification.
On road safety audits, the ministry clarified that newly constructed national highways undergo independent safety assessments before being opened to traffic. Deficiencies in signage and markings are rectified beforehand.
Safety audits are conducted at regular intervals during the operational stage to identify emerging concerns and implement remedial measures within the stipulated timelines.
Accident data from the existing and new highways is monitored through the e-DAR portal, enabling identification of accident-prone locations. Field officers have been authorised to take proactive remedial measures to prevent such locations from becoming blackspots.
District-wise black corridor stretches in AP:
Anakapalli: 33
Anakapalli, Kakinada: 1
Anantapur: 2
Annamayya: 9
Bapatla: 3
Chittoor: 11
East Godavari: 46
East Godavari, Konaseema: 1
Eluru: 19
Guntur: 17
Kakinada: 28
Konaseema: 6
Krishna: 25
Krishna, Eluru: 1
Kurnool: 8
Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao: 24
Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao, Krishna: 1
Nandyal: 4
Palnadu: 7
Prakasam: 12
SPSR Nellore: 31
Sri Satya Sai: 6
Srikakulam: 30
Tirupati: 12
Visakhapatnam: 23
Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram: 1
Vizianagaram: 13
Vizianagaram, Srikakulam: 1
West Godavari: 7
YSR Kadapa: 2
Total: 384
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
