Efforts in Andhra Pradesh to improve safety on roads and reduce accidents have received a shot in the arm with the World Bank approving a loan of $320 million.

The state recorded the third highest number of accidents in the country in 2008-2009. On average 36 people died every day in road accidents on the state highways and district roads which have turned into death traps due to poor maintenance and faulty designing. Last year, over 13,000 people died on the state’s highways.

The World Bank-aided Andhra Pradesh Road Sector Project would improve the condition of several important state highways and fund the maintenance of 6,000 km of highways and inter-district roads over a period of five to six years. A major component of the loan is to be utilised for two-laning of some highways and four-laning of busier highways.

R&B officials say a component of the World Bank loan is meant for road safety. “Road designs would be improved where there are ‘black spots’ or accident-prone zones. Providing rest areas and parking bays along highways for weary or sleepy drivers, and making road signs more visible are some of the things to be done to improve safety on roads,” an official said. “Patrolling on the highways to check incidence of drinking and driving, rash or negligent driving will also be increased.”

R&B Minister G Aruna Kumari maintained that the loan would boost the government efforts to reduce accidents and loss of lives on the highways. “We want our highways to be known for better connectivity, not as death traps,” she added.

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