Bihar Road Construction Department Steps Up Highway Safety Measures
In response to directives from the Supreme Court, the Bihar Road Construction Department (RCD) has significantly intensified its monitoring efforts on state highways to mitigate animal-related accidents and bolster overall road safety. This proactive initiative involves the formation of specialized patrol teams deployed across all 64 administrative divisions under the department's jurisdiction.
Targeted Monitoring and Data Collection
The department has identified 757 specific locations where stray dogs and other animals frequently gather, posing risks to both commuters and the animals themselves. Dhananjoy Kumar Bampat, superintendent engineer and nodal officer of the RCD, detailed the structured system implemented for handling these situations. "When stray animals are found on national or state highways, our patrol teams are required to capture photographs along with longitude and latitude coordinates," Bampat explained. "This data is then promptly forwarded to the relevant executive officers to facilitate efficient relocation."
He emphasized that the primary goal of these operations is to prevent vehicular accidents and avoid accidental deaths of strays on the roads. The patrol teams have been actively operational since December 2025, ensuring continuous vigilance across Bihar's road network.
Collaboration with Civic Bodies
Bampat further clarified the division of responsibilities in this safety protocol. "Civic bodies have been allocated the task of establishing designated shelter points for these animals," he stated. "The role of the RCD is to locate the animals and report them to the concerned authorities for shifting to these shelters." This collaborative approach aims to create a seamless process for animal welfare and road safety integration.
Addressing Accident Black Spots
Beyond animal-related concerns, the RCD is also tackling broader safety issues on Bihar's roads. Based on 2024 calculations, the department identified 248 accident black spots across the state. Bampat reported that 179 of these spots have already been addressed through a combination of short-term, interim, and long-term fixes.
These rectifications include the installation of critical safety features such as signage, speed limit boards, and speed breakers, as well as corrections to the physical geometry of the roads. For more complex areas, the department is undertaking larger infrastructure projects, including the construction of bypasses, foot overbridges, and underpasses to ensure sustainable, long-term road safety improvements.
This comprehensive strategy underscores Bihar's commitment to enhancing road safety through targeted monitoring, inter-agency collaboration, and infrastructural upgrades, all aligned with judicial mandates to protect both human and animal lives on the highways.
