NHAI To Solarise 104 Sites At Andhra Highways, Issues Tender

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) recently issued a tender and invited bids from experienced firms/organizations to provide solar highway lighting. The solar lighting will cover 104 locations across different stretches. NHAI has set February 4, 2025 as the deadline for the bid submission.

The NHAI tender states, “The project will cover a stretch from Km 741.255 to Km 1022.494 on the Anakapalli – Annavaram – Diwancheruvu section of NH-16, the Diwancheruvu – Siddhantham – Gundugolanu section of NH-216A, the Gundugolanu – Devarapalli – Kovvuru section from Km 15.320 to Km 85.204 of NH-16, and the Kathipudi – Start of Kakinada Bypass section from Km 0.000 to Km 27.500 of NH-216 in the State of Andhra Pradesh, as part of the rectification of MoRT&H-identified blackspots and accident spots.”

Using Solar Across Blackspots

To address road safety concerns on highways, the government has identified areas requiring the rectification of accident blackspots. To encourage this, the government has prioritized high-risk blackspots (accident-prone areas) on National Highways. The latest tender aims to bridge the gap by making concerted efforts toward improving road safety through engineering measures on National Highways.

To date, the government has identified a total of 13,795 blackspots on National Highways, with short-term rectification measures completed on 9,525 blackspots and permanent rectification completed on 4,777 blackspots. The rectification of the remaining identified black spots is ongoing. Additionally, rectification measures are being taken on accident spots reported on the eDAR portal on a priority basis.

The Ministry is taking the following steps to rectify the blackspots:

1. Immediate short-term measures include cautionary road signs and markings, transverse bar markings, rumble strips, and solar blinkers.
2. Long-term rectification measures such as flyovers, underpasses, foot overbridges, and service roads are being provided where necessary.
3. Traffic calming measures, including traffic warning signs, delineators, road studs, bar markings, and humps at approach roads, are being implemented at vulnerable sections of National Highways to reduce road accident fatalities.

Emergency and medical facilities for road accident victims are provided according to the respective contract/concession agreements signed between NHAI and the contractors/concessionaires.