‘98% increase in deaths on Yamuna e-way’

Uttar Pradesh roads claim among the maximum number of lives in India with Noida and Ghaziabad being major contributors to the figures.

According to data provided by different States, Uttar Pradesh recorded the maximum number of road deaths (17,666), followed by Tamil Nadu (15,642), Maharashtra (13,212), Karnataka (10,856) and Rajasthan (10,510).

Data available with the Uttar Pradesh Traffic Department suggests that the Yamuna Expressway witnessed a 98% increase in deaths from 2014 to 2015. A total of 801 deaths were reported in 2014 on the 165-km expressway, which increased to 1,585 in 2015.

Anil Agarwal, ADG Traffic (Uttar Pradesh), told

The Hindu that 17,666 accident deaths were reported across Uttar Pradesh in 2015. “The figure for Yamuna Expressway stands at 1,585, which is around 9% of the total,” said Mr. Agarwal. Most accidents on the expressway, he added, were due to overspeeding.

“We deploy enforcement officials at different places but commuters themselves should restrain from overspeeding,” said Mr. Agarwal.

The Yamuna Expressway covers five districts, which include Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras and Agra. Aligarh reported the highest number of deaths in the last two years. The Traffic Department recorded 85 deaths in 2014, which increased to 396 in 2015, an increase of 365%. Aligarh was followed by Agra, which recorded 211 deaths in 2014. The number increased to 366 in 2015, an increase of 73%.

According to Mr. Agarwal, Gautam Budh Nagar district recorded a 67% rise in deaths on the Yamuna Expressway. Noida itself recorded 198 deaths in 2014, which rose to 331 in 2015.

“We work on enforcement and awareness. We have to ensure road discipline in terms of lane driving and observing of traffic signals. But, the most important part is to give pedestrians their right on the road,” said Gautam Budh Nagar Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Prabal Pratap Singh.

Hathras, meanwhile, saw a total of 78 deaths in 2014, which rose to 134 in 2015, an increase of 71%.

Mathura recorded 229 deaths in 2014, which increased to 358 in 2015.

The Traffic Department also released data about 10 districts that saw the maximum number of accidents and fatalities in 2015. According to this, Kanpur topped the list with 655 deaths and 1,085 people injured in 1,479 accidents. This was followed by Aligarh, which recorded 609 fatalities and 639 people injured in 759 accidents. Lucknow ranked third with 585 deaths and 874 injured in 1,388 accidents.