Newz Desk, Durgapur: Fear is mounting among commuters as National Highway 19, one of Durgapur’s busiest stretches, continues to witness a surge in accidents. The situation has become so alarming that the Traffic Department of the Asansol–Durgapur Police Commissionerate has officially identified eight high-risk accident-prone zones—classified as “black spots.”
The stretch from the RIP Plot area to Indo-American More sees a continuous flow of heavy vehicles from numerous small and large factories. With the constant movement of trucks and industrial carriers, accidents have become almost a daily occurrence.
Where the Danger Lies
At Lenin Sarani under the Muchipara Traffic Guard, factory vehicles attempt to merge onto NH-19, creating a high-risk zone near the MAMC More intersection.
At the Piyala Kali Temple stretch under the Durgapur Traffic Guard, hundreds of pedestrians cross the highway every day without zebra crossings, traffic signals or safety measures leading to frequent near-misses and collisions.
In front of the Faridpur Outpost, the entry and exit of trucks from Raturia, Angadpur and the Durgapur Alloy Steel units create severe traffic chaos, making the spot one of the most accident-prone on the highway.
Localities such as Bhiringi Chashi Para, Old Court More and the Main Gate area are densely populated, lying right beside NH-19. Day or night, unrestricted pedestrian crossing remains a major cause of road mishaps. A similar situation persists at Gopal Maidan, where the constant movement of vehicles and people increases the risk of fatal accidents.
Officials Inspect Danger Zones
Taking stock of the deteriorating situation, a high-level inspection was conducted on Tuesday around 3 pm. Deputy Commissioner of Traffic P.V.G. Satish Pashumarthi, ACP Rajkumar Malakar, OC Satinath Shil, Sandeep Som and other officials from the Commissionerate visited all eight black spots to assess the hazards firsthand.
Sources indicate that the Traffic Department is preparing to implement urgent corrective measures to reduce accident rates on this crucial national highway stretch.
As local residents and daily commuters voice increasing concern, the pressure is now on authorities to enforce stricter traffic regulation and improve pedestrian safety before more lives are put at risk.
