📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Biswarup Ganguly
Automobile
Odisha Reports 10,945 Road Accident Deaths Over 5 Years, 194 Black Corridors Identified
✍️ Kanak News Odisha
🗓 23 Jul 2026, 12:04 PM
👁 1
Odisha’s latest highway safety report reveals 10,945 fatalities in the past five years and flags 194 high‑risk stretches, termed black corridors, for urgent intervention.
Odisha’s latest highway safety report, released by the state transport department, records a staggering 10,945 deaths from road accidents over the last five years. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted safety interventions across the state’s road network.
The report identifies 194 stretches of highway as “black corridors” – sections that have witnessed an abnormally high frequency of fatal crashes. These corridors span major arterial routes, including the NH 16 corridor in the coastal belt and the NH 18 corridor in the western districts.
In response, officials have pledged to accelerate the implementation of safety measures such as speed‑control signage, improved lighting, and the installation of median barriers. The department also plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of traffic enforcement and driver training programs.
Experts warn that without swift action, the death toll could rise further, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in road safety infrastructure and public awareness campaigns.
The report identifies 194 stretches of highway as “black corridors” – sections that have witnessed an abnormally high frequency of fatal crashes. These corridors span major arterial routes, including the NH 16 corridor in the coastal belt and the NH 18 corridor in the western districts.
In response, officials have pledged to accelerate the implementation of safety measures such as speed‑control signage, improved lighting, and the installation of median barriers. The department also plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of traffic enforcement and driver training programs.
Experts warn that without swift action, the death toll could rise further, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in road safety infrastructure and public awareness campaigns.