Tirupati District Administration Launches Intensive 60-Day Road Safety Campaign
Tirupati district collector S Venkateshwar has announced an ambitious plan to address all identified black spots on the district's highways within the next 60 days. This initiative is being implemented in strict alignment with the chief minister's ‘Zero Death Policy’, aiming to drastically reduce fatal road accidents across the region.
Comprehensive Identification of 48 Critical Black Spots
The district administration has meticulously identified 48 accident-prone black spots on national highways that experience heavy daily traffic volumes. These locations have been marked as high-risk areas requiring immediate intervention to prevent further loss of life.
District-Wide Bus Yatra Inspection Tour
As part of this comprehensive road safety initiative, a specialized team led by collector S Venkateshwar and superintendent of police L. Subbarayudu conducted an extensive daylong travel across the vast highway stretches in Tirupati district on Tuesday. This ‘Bus Yatra’ commenced from the identified black spot at Nendragunta junction on the western end of the district and systematically examined every critical location.
The inspection team included officials from multiple departments:
- Revenue Department
- Transport Department
- Police Department
- Roads and Buildings Department
- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
During this thorough examination, the team identified numerous problematic locations including:
- Swarnamukhi bridge at Srikalahasti
- Sullurpeta junction
- Vinnamala cross near Naidupeta
- Bodilingampadu junction in Tada mandal
- Ozili junction
Alarming Accident Statistics and Contributing Factors
Collector Venkateswar expressed deep concern about the district's road safety record, noting that Tirupati, Chittoor, and Nellore districts consistently rank at the top in terms of road accident frequency and severity. He revealed that approximately 550-560 persons lose their lives annually in Tirupati district alone, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
The collector attributed these alarming statistics to multiple contributing factors:
- The massive congregation of devotees traveling to Tirumala
- Ongoing National Highway expansion works
- Prevalence of overnight travel to cover longer distances
- Widespread overspeeding and signal jumping
- Nonadherence to basic safety practices like helmet and seat belt usage
- Dangerous lane crossing behaviors
Strategic Definition and Targeted Solutions for Black Spots
The administration has defined black spots as locations that witnessed at least two consecutive accidents during the previous year. All relevant departments have been mobilized to collectively address these dangerous areas through a multi-pronged approach:
- Correcting structural deficiencies and highway design problems
- Implementing engineering solutions to improve road safety
- Creating comprehensive awareness campaigns targeting local residents and vendors
- Addressing systemic issues contributing to accident risks
Enhanced Enforcement and Infrastructure Improvements
Superintendent of Police L. Subbarayudu detailed the department's enhanced enforcement measures, including deployment of monitoring staff equipped with alcohol meters and speed guns to strictly penalize drunk driving and overspeeding violations. Additionally, the department is implementing several infrastructure improvements:
- Installation of blinkers and rumble strips on roads
- Strategic placement of traffic signals at critical intersections
- Enhanced road markings and signage
- Improved lighting in high-risk areas
This comprehensive 60-day campaign represents a significant commitment to transforming Tirupati's highway safety landscape, with all departments working in coordinated fashion to achieve the ambitious goal of zero preventable deaths on the district's roads.
