ASR’s Ghat Roads See Surge in Fatal Accidents, Night Traffic Curbed

The winding ghat roads of Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district have turned into a major road‑safety nightmare. Police records show 990 accidents over the past three years, claiming 617 lives and injuring 415 people. On Friday alone, nine fatalities were recorded.

Officials attribute the surge to a mix of factors. Dense winter fog frequently cuts visibility, while the roads – many built nearly 70 years ago – suffer from poor maintenance. Drivers, often unfamiliar with the steep slopes and sharp curves, add to the risk. “The Chintoor–Bhadrachalam road has limited attention because it does not attract tourists like Araku Valley,” said traffic‑management expert Prof. Mukund. “When Maredumilli became a tourist hotspot, traffic grew but the infrastructure did not keep pace.”

In response to Friday’s fatal crash, ASR District Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar ordered a ban on heavy commercial vehicles on the Chintoor and Maredumilli ghat roads. The state later extended the restriction to all vehicular movement on ghat roads between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. ASR District Collector Dinesh Kumar said the administration is considering a complete traffic ban on all ghat roads until the end of January, when fog typically eases. Road‑repair work and the construction of gabion retaining walls are already under proposal to the state government, pending a final decision after a road‑safety meeting.

Experts warn that the ghat road, with its nine-hairpin bends and narrow curves, is ill‑suited for heavy vehicles. Motorists also note that routine post‑monsoon pruning of roadside trees was skipped this year, further reducing visibility. The problem is compounded during the peak tourist season, when about 10,000 visitors arrive daily between October and January, straining an already ageing network.

The district’s authorities hope the temporary bans and planned upgrades will curb the tragic toll on these hazardous mountain passes.