The Goa Public Works Department (PWD) has submitted a proposal of ?2.96 billion to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for addressing 15 identified black spots on highways across the state. The requested funds are aimed for the financial year 2024-25, according to sources.

Black spots are determined using data from the transport department and traffic police, with an area classified as such if it has seen five fatalities or ten serious injuries over a three-year period within a 500-meter stretch. One notable location for proposed improvements is Nuvem, where fatalities have been reported.

Data indicates that Goa experiences an alarming average of 7.8 accidents daily, with accident numbers rising by 12.9% annually. Year-on-year, fatalities have surged by 20.9%. As of April this year, there have been 245 reported accidents, resulting in 34 fatalities.

Currently, 64 black spots have been identified across national highways and other roads in Goa, with work underway to mitigate dangers at 12 of these locations, primarily along the Panaji-Belagavi highway. To date, ?74 lakh has been sanctioned for ongoing improvements.

In 2022, the PWD identified 35 black spots, and an additional 29 were marked last year. While some road engineering issues have been addressed, progress has been hindered in certain cases due to local opposition to land acquisition for necessary widening. Following central ministry directives, Goa is expected to eliminate all identified black spots by 2025-26.

An audit of the national and state highways in Goa was conducted in 2019, prompting ongoing safety assessments and enhancements.