World · India Bureau
₹10-crore lighting project transforms accident-prone NH 966A corridor
Over 1,100 street lights have been activated along a 17-kilometre stretch of National Highway 966A, addressing a decade-long safety crisis that claimed dozens of lives. The infrastructure upgrade aims to curb fatal accidents, criminal activity and illegal dumping that plagued the route.
LSN India ·
A major lighting initiative has gone live along NH 966A, marking a significant step toward improving road safety on one of South and Southeast Asia's most dangerous highway segments. The ₹10-crore project has installed 1,100 street lights across the 17-kilometre stretch, transforming the previously dark corridor that served as a hotspot for traffic fatalities and anti-social activities.
The highway has witnessed more than two dozen fatal accidents over the past decade, prompting sustained calls from residents, commuters and safety advocates for intervention. Beyond the accident toll, the poorly lit section became notorious for crimes and unregulated waste dumping, compounding public concerns about road conditions.
State authorities undertook the lighting project in response to years of complaints and documented safety failures. Officials indicated that improved visibility should significantly reduce accident risks, particularly during night hours, while also deterring criminal elements and unauthorised dumping operations that had flourished in the darkness.
The activation of the lights represents the first major infrastructure intervention on this critical transport corridor. Traffic safety experts note that adequate highway illumination is essential for reducing vehicle collisions and improving overall road user experience, particularly on high-traffic national routes serving regional commerce and connectivity.