In a significant breakthrough for urban transit safety, the Bhopal Traffic Police have officially revised the city’s list of ‘Black Spots’, areas notorious for frequent and fatal road accidents. Following a comprehensive three-year data analysis and the successful implementation of safety protocols, five prominent locations have been declassified from the ‘high-risk’ category. Previously, the police had identified 16 such zones across the city. With the removal of these five sites, the count has dropped to 11. These remaining areas will continue to be under specialised monitoring until further surveys are conducted. The five declassified locations: According to official traffic police records, the sites now deemed safer include: Best Price Crossing, Chirayu Hospital Square, Tarun Pushkar, Samardha Bridge and DB Mall Crossing. Authorities attributed this improvement to a combination of engineering interventions, enhanced signage, and consistent patrolling. During the 36-month review period, no fatal accidents or major casualties were recorded at these specific points. The decision to remove them was finalised through co-ordination between the Police Department, the Municipal Corporation, and the Public Works Department (PWD).

 

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Basant Kaul stated that strategic enforcement played a pivotal role. “Regular surveillance, strategic deployment of personnel, and strict punitive action against violators, alongside infrastructure repairs, have yielded results,” Kaul noted. Data indicates that while 99 accidents were cumulatively recorded across all 16 original spots over three years, corrective measures have significantly blunted the risk in these zones. While police efforts are central to the narrative, urban planning experts have highlighted an alternative factor: the city’s ongoing infrastructure boom. Extensive construction for the Bhopal Metro and various flyovers has led to frequent traffic congestion at several of the delisted sites. This forced reduction in vehicle speed, often limited to 20–30 km/h due to diversions, has naturally lowered the probability of high-impact collisions. Defining a ‘Black Spot’: Under technical parameters, a 500-meter road segment is classified as a ‘Black Spot’ if it has witnessed multiple serious accidents resulting in 10 or more fatalities within the last three years. The five removed locations failed to meet this grim threshold during the current assessment cycle, marking a transition toward safer road conditions. 11 locations still under watch: Citizens are advised to maintain caution at the following 11 points which remain on the active Black Spot list: ISBT-Govindpura Turn, Ratnagiri T-point, 1100 Quarters Hanuman Temple, Court Square, Paryavas Bhavan T-point, Ashima Mall Crossing, 11 Mile, People’s Mall & Hospital, Vyapam Square, Bagh Sewania Police Station Crossing, Platinum Plaza to 1250 stretch.