The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed rectification work on 16 of 22 officially identified black spots across highways in Pune division, as part of a broader initiative to reduce the number of fatal accidents. The information was disclosed by NHAI officials during a recent regional review meeting. The agency stated that work is actively underway on the remaining six locations, with target deadlines set for late 2025.
The Pune division—covering key highway stretches such as NH-48 (Mumbai-Bengaluru), NH-965 (Palkhi Marg), and sections of NH-60—has long been under scrutiny due to recurring accidents at identified danger zones. Many of these stretches see high vehicular movement from intercity commuters, transport vehicles, and local traffic.
According to officials, black spots are locations with a historically high incidence of fatal or serious road accidents. The identification of these sites is based on a threshold of more than 10 fatalities over a three-year period or high frequency of accidents in a defined stretch. In Pune division, the most critical black spots included Navale Bridge, Katraj Tunnel area, Warje junction, and certain intersections along the Pune-Satara highway.
A senior NHAI engineer from the Maharashtra regional office confirmed that improvements made at the 16 completed black spots include road widening, improved lighting, installation of rumble strips, signage upgrades, realignment of curves, and placement of crash barriers. In locations like Navale Bridge and the approach to Katraj Tunnel, engineering interventions were implemented to smoothen traffic flow and reduce vehicle pile-ups.
“Permanent engineering solutions have been executed wherever feasible. We’ve ensured that safety audits are being conducted post-implementation to assess effectiveness,” said the official, adding that accident data is being closely monitored through police and district administration coordination.
The work on the remaining six sites is reportedly delayed due to land acquisition issues and utility shifting. However, officials clarified that interim measures such as temporary barricading, warning signage, and reflective markings have been put in place to alert motorists and prevent further incidents.
Despite the progress, several road safety activists and transport researchers have pointed out that black spot rectification must go beyond short-term interventions. Experts have called for continuous safety audits, better coordination between traffic police and infrastructure agencies, and the use of technology-driven monitoring systems such as AI-enabled traffic cams to anticipate risk-prone behavior.
“The real problem lies not just in geometry but in design consistency and enforcement. High-speed corridors with abrupt bottlenecks or blind turns are not being flagged early enough for road users,” said a Pune-based road safety analyst.
Residents near Warje and Narhe continue to raise concerns about ongoing traffic congestion and inconsistent lane discipline despite surface-level improvements. According to them, the problem escalates during monsoon months when poor visibility and slippery surfaces amplify accident risks.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has been pushing for state-wise black spot rectification under the National Road Safety Plan, with a target to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030. Pune division’s NHAI progress will be factored into quarterly national updates submitted to the ministry.
Meanwhile, a second phase of safety audits across newer intersections, service roads, and merging lanes has been initiated. A fresh set of black spots may be added based on the upcoming accident data from the 2022–2025 cycle. The NHAI has also planned joint inspection drives with traffic police and state PWD engineers in the coming months.
