Speed Limit at Black-spots on Hyderabad-Vijayawada Highway Reduced to 80 Kmph
The NHIA has sounded an alert asking car drivers not to travel during odd hours from 2 am to 5.30 am on the ever-busy Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway (NH-65).
Hyderabad: In the wake of a series of fatal accidents, the National Highways Authority of India (NHIA) has sounded an alert asking car drivers not to travel during odd hours from 2 am to 5.30 am on the ever-busy Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway (NH-65).
Concerned over these accidents, the NHIA has also reduced the speed limit to 80 kmph as against 100 kmph at 40 black-spots that have been identified on the highway starting from Malkapur on the suburbs of Hyderabad to Nandigama in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh covering 270 km.
A close examination of accidents by the NHIA in coordination with the police on Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway indicated that drivers of buses, lorries’ and trucks were adhering to lane discipline while traveling on the four-lane stretch.
But the car drivers were found to be violating not only the prescribed speed limits but also driving carelessly during odd hours resulting in accidents. Officials said the accidents on the highway were happening because of careless driving while overtaking other vehicles at high-speed.
A few weeks ago, two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) from Andhra Pradesh died on the spot and two other police personnel were injured in a road accident on the NH-65 near Kaithapuram in Choutuppal in the early hours of July 26. DSP M. Chakradhar Rao (57) from Goshamahal and DSP J. Shantha Rao (54) from Hayathnagar died on the spot in the accident. Additional superintendent of police K.D.M.V.R. Prasad and driver R. Narsing Rao (54) sustained injuries. The officers were en route to Hyderabad for official duty when the incident occurred.
The Choutuppal police suspect over-speeding and drowsy driving to be the cause of the accident. After the incident, officials from the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate and NHIA inspected the accident spot to know the main reason behind the accident. The major portion of the highways falls under the jurisdiction of the Suryapet district police and Rachakonda Police Commissionerate.
A senior official of NHIA said the drivers of heavy vehicles follow lane discipline and reach their destinations safely. However, several car drivers were found to be not adhering to speed limit rules resulting in accidents.
He said the sign boards indicating the speed limit of 80 kmph were put up at the black spots to caution motorists. The actual speed limit on the high is 100 kmph but it was reduced to 80 kmph as several car drivers were driving at 120 kmph and putting their lives at risk.
When contacted, Rachakonda Deputy Commissioner of Police, Road Safety, K Manohar said corrective measures were taken to repair the black spots. But, it is the responsibility of drivers to follow safety rules while driving their vehicle, he explained.
As per data entered by States and Union Territories (UTs) on eDAR portal as on June 2025, as many as 26,770 fatal road accidents occurred on the national highways as against 52,609 in 2024 and 53,372 in 2023.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said that high priority was accorded to identification and rectification of black-spots or accident spots on NHs. “Rectification of black spots is a continuous process and temporary measures are taken on an immediate basis. Short term remedial measures have been completed on 8,542 black-spots and long term remedial measures have been completed on 3,144 black-spots. Further, the NHAI has also identified that 3,322 black-spots do not require long term remedial measures.
Long term rectification works include improvement of road geometrics, junction improvements, spot widening of carriageway, construction of underpasses or overpasses, etc. which involve pre-construction activities such as land acquisition, forest clearance and utility shifting which takes significant time, the Ministry said.