Raj govt asks NHAI for 15-day safety audit of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway after Dausa bus-trailer collision
Jaipur, July 3
In the wake of the deadly bus-trailer collision on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Dausa that claimed eight lives, the Rajasthan government on Friday ordered a comprehensive road safety audit of the expressway within 15 days and directed authorities to identify accident-prone black spots across the state for immediate corrective action.
Chairing a high-level road safety review meeting via video conference, State Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said that passenger safety must remain the government's top priority and instructed all departments to implement time-bound measures to reduce road accidents and fatalities.
The Chief Secretary directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to complete a comprehensive safety audit of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway corridor within 15 days.
He also instructed NHAI to ensure that all surveillance cameras installed along national highways remain fully functional and to improve road signage, lane markings, and other safety infrastructure wherever deficiencies are found.
Responding to the directive, NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav assured that the audit would be completed within the stipulated period and that necessary improvements, including enhanced signage, would be carried out promptly.
He also appreciated the Rajasthan government's proactive approach towards improving road safety.
Reviewing accident trends across the state, the Chief Secretary directed officials to identify accident-prone locations, commonly known as black spots, and undertake corrective measures within a fixed timeline.
He emphasised that better lighting, clearer road markings, warning signs, and engineering improvements at vulnerable stretches would play a crucial role in preventing accidents.
The meeting also discussed concerns over buses registered in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland but operating in Rajasthan without complying with prescribed bus body safety standards.
Chief Secretary Srinivas directed that semi-official letters be sent to the Chief Secretaries of both states seeking appropriate action.
He also instructed transport authorities to ensure that no vehicle is registered or allowed to operate without thorough inspection and verification of safety standards, stressing that passenger safety cannot be compromised.
The Transport and Road Safety Department has been directed to launch special enforcement drives focusing on installation of reflective tapes on vehicles, verification of compliance with Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) for buses, recovery of pending traffic challan penalties, strict action against over-speeding vehicles and better emergency response on highways.
To improve accident response, the Chief Secretary directed that every toll plaza should have access to ambulances, first-aid facilities, recovery cranes and towing vehicles and fire brigade support in coordination with the state government.
He also asked authorities to ensure affordable food facilities for commercial vehicle drivers at highway amenity centres to promote safer long-distance travel.
V. Srinivas instructed all Divisional Commissioners to convene meetings with District Collectors to review the functioning of district road safety committees and ensure coordinated implementation of safety measures.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary (Public Works Department) Praveen Gupta, Principal Secretary (Transport) Bhawani Singh Detha, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Bhaskar Atmaram Sawant, Transport Commissioner Purushottam Sharma, NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, representatives of the Transport Departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, and senior administrative and police officials through video conferencing.
The review meeting marked the third consecutive day of discussions chaired by Chief Secretary Srinivas to strengthen road safety measures across Rajasthan following recent fatal road accidents.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The issue of buses from Arunachal and Nagaland operating in Rajasthan without proper safety standards is a huge loophole. Why are these interstate vehicles not being checked at entry points? Also, good that they are focusing on black spots - we need more reflectors and better lighting on highways. Too many accidents happen at night due to poor visibility.
Appreciate the effort, but 15 days is too short for a comprehensive audit of such a massive corridor. Instead of rushing, they should do a thorough job. Also, what about the condition of service roads and emergency access points? Many stretches have no proper exits for breakdowns. Hope they look at the bigger picture beyond just signage.
Finally some action! The video of the Dausa accident was heartbreaking 😢. Key thing is enforcement - reflective tapes, over-speeding checks, and toll plazas having ambulances. Many toll plazas don't even have basic first aid. The idea of affordable food for truck drivers at highway centres is also thoughtful - tired drivers cause accidents too.
Good steps but I have a practical concern - who will ensure these measures are sustained after the initial push? We've seen many such audits and drives fizzle out after a few months. The Chief Secretary should set up a monitoring mechanism with monthly reviews. Also, why are Arunachal and Nagaland buses being allowed to operate with different standards? This needs a national solution.
As someone who travels on this expressway frequently, the black spots are very real. Near my city, there's a stretch where three accidents have happened this year
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