Bhubaneswar: National Highway-16 in Odisha has literally turned into a deathtrap for commuters, recording as many as 11,000 road accidents annually.
According to data, a total of 142 black spots have been identified in the entire National Highways network across the state, of which 69 black spots have been identified on only National Highway 16.
With fatalities in road accidents reported across the state almost every day, a look at the latest data available from the Odisha Police indicated that accidents on National Highway 16 in the state have claimed an average of 5,000 lives annually while the total number of accidents on the NH every year is close to 11, 000, according to the data released by Odisha Police.
In 2022, NH-16 recorded 11,663 road mishaps in 2022 in which 5,467 people died. Similarly in the year 2021, the NH saw 10,983 road mishaps which claimed 5,081 lives. In 2020, a total number of 9,817 accidents took place in which 4,738 people were killed in the said period.
In 2019, as many as 11,064 accidents took place on NH-16 out of which 5,333 people have lost their lives. If we go back to 2018, as many as 11,262 accidents occurred on NH-16 which claimed 5, 315 lives in the same year.
In 2017, NH-16 saw 10,855 accidents in which 4,790 people died. In 2016, as many as 10.532 accidents happened on NH-16 in which 4,463 people died.
This figure indicates that there is a steep rise in the number of accidents on Nh-16.
The National Highway Authority of India has identified altogether 142 black spots in the entire National Highways network in Odisha out of which NH-16 has the highest number of black spots which is 69.
While 11 black spots have been identified in areas coming under the jurisdiction of Cuttack Commissionerate Police, 9 black spots are located under Cuttack Rural Police.
It is learnt that NHAI has identified 15 black spots under Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police, five in Khurda, two in Dhenkanal, nine in Angul, 13 in Jajpur, 12 in Mayurbhanj, five in Bhadrak, 10 in Balasore, five in Ganjam, four in Berhampur, 12 in Puri, five in Kendrapara, five in Ganjam, four in Berhampur, 12 in Puri, two in Jagatsinghpur, five in Keonjhar, eight in Rourkela, one in Bargarh, three in Jharsuguda and six in Sambalpur.
When it comes to National Highways, 15 black spots have been identified on NH-15, 12 on NH-316 and 11 on NH-11. However, NH-16 saw the highest number of black spots.
