Naubasta-Hamirpur Highway to be Widened and Five Black Spots to be Eliminated

A planned project aims to widen the Naubasta-Hamirpur Highway (NH-34) and eliminate five identified accident-prone black spots to curb road incidents. According to reports, the project will cover specific locations in Ghatमपुर including Ramaipur, Patara, Anupur turn, Durga Temple, and Bhadras turn.

Project Details and Cost

• Estimated Cost: A tender awarded to a Jammu-based company named TRG was finalized at 27 crore rupees against an initial estimate of approximately 47 crore rupees.
• Scheduled Start: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials stated that the work is expected to commence in November.

Traffic Pressure and Accident Causes

Reports indicate that the two-lane highway experiences traffic pressure significantly exceeding its intended capacity. While the route has a design capacity of around 3,000 PCU (Passenger Car Units), actual traffic is reportedly about 10 times higher, increasing accident risks.

Contributing factors cited in reports include:

• Overloaded dumpers and high-speed driving
• Improper overtaking methods and nighttime use of high-beam headlights
• Parked vehicles on the road due to a lack of parking spaces at roadside hotels and guest houses
• Speed breakers lacking radium strips and checkered markings near villages, causing nighttime visibility issues for drivers

Proposed Improvements

NHAI Project Manager Pankaj Yadav stated that service roads will be constructed alongside major turns in addition to the widening work. This measure is intended to prevent rural vehicles from entering the main highway directly.

Verification and Practical Implications

Residents and commuters can verify project updates and timelines through official announcements from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or local district administrative channels in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.