Repeated Fatal Crashes On NH-16 Spur Calls For Urgent Safety Measures

Nellore:A horrific road accident at the NTR Nagar junction on National Highway 16 in Nellore on Tuesday claimed three lives on the spot, leaving three others critically injured.

This alarming frequency of fatal crashes on the busy corridor exposes deficiencies within the highway. It reveals lack of tangible safety measures to prevent recurrent deaths on the highway stretch.

According to NHAI data, 447 people have been killed across SPSR Nellore district and 897 injured in 415 fatal and 407 non-fatal accidents on NH-16 during 2024. In 2025 so far, 442 deaths and 735 injuries have been reported in 397 fatal and 369 non-fatal accidents.

Two-wheelers accounted for most of the vehicles involved — 259 in 2024 and 245 this year — followed by cars (145 in 2024, 171 in 2025) and lorries (146 in 2024, 113 so far this year).

A senior police officer underscored the urgent need for solar blinkers, pedestrian markings, advance signboards before junctions, rumble strips, speed limit indicators, and speed breakers to prevent collisions at major intersections.

Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, who frequently commutes on the highway, urged the NHAI to explore constructing an elevated corridor—similar to Hyderabad’s PV Narasimha Rao Expressway—along urban stretches of NH-16 to ease congestion and save lives.

The MLA called on the District Road Safety Committee (DRSC) to identify and notify the accident-prone “Black Spots,” a prerequisite for sanctioning Road Over Bridges (ROBs) or Road Under Bridges (RUBs).

The key high-risk zones include Chinthareddypalem Junction, NTR Nagar and Sri Venugopala Swamy Degree College Junction.

Incidentally, following Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy’s sustained efforts, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) recently sanctioned a vehicle underpass at Chinthareddypalem junction, located close to the accident site, to enhance safety.