Visakhapatnam, commonly known as Vizag, witnessed a slight decrease in the total number of road crashes during 2025, but the grim tally of fatalities showed no signs of abating. The city's traffic data reveals a worrying trend where engineering flaws and traffic indiscipline continue to claim lives, particularly on the busy national highway corridors.
NH-16 Emerges as the Most Dangerous Corridor
The statistics for 2025 paint a concerning picture. Vizag city recorded 1,086 road crashes, which included more than 330 incidents classified as fatal. These deadly crashes resulted in 349 lives lost and left over 1,030 individuals injured. A deep dive into the locations shows a clear hotspot: the NH-16 stretch passing through the city accounted for over 420 cases, or 38% of all accidents.
Police Commissioner Dr. Shanka Brata Bagchi provided a stark breakdown for NH-16, noting it was responsible for 143 crashes and 149 deaths in 2025 alone. The BRTS road was another significant trouble spot, contributing to 10% of the city's crashes with 117 accidents, 34 deaths, and 210 injuries.
A Look at the Trends: Crashes Down, Deaths Persistent
While the 2025 figure of 1,086 crashes marks a marginal reduction of around 4% from the 1,132 crashes in 2024, the number of deaths has inched up. In 2024, 329 fatal crashes led to 347 deaths. The previous year, 2023, was even worse in terms of accident volume with 1,182 crashes, though fatalities were slightly lower at 326.
The most dangerous time on Vizag's roads is immediately after peak office hours, between 6 pm and 9 pm, according to police analysis. The primary culprits identified are speeding, reckless overtaking, and a growing problem of new two-wheeler riders flouting traffic rules.
Two-Wheelers at the Center of the Crisis
The vast majority of fatal and non-fatal crashes in the city involve riders of two-wheelers. Additional DCP (Traffic Wing) K. Praveen Kumar highlighted key behavioral issues leading to tragedies: not wearing helmets, speeding, wrong-side riding, and zigzag maneuvering.
In response to the ongoing crisis, city police initiated the 'No Helmet, No Petrol' policy across all fuel stations from January 1, 2025. This measure aims to enforce basic safety gear usage at the point of refueling. Furthermore, authorities have identified around 68 accident-prone locations in the city and are working on a revised list. The plan is to mitigate crashes at these spots through targeted road engineering interventions and stricter enforcement.
Commissioner Bagchi emphasized the need for a holistic review, stating, "Despite police efforts, the number of fatalities in road crashes is slightly increasing in Vizag city. It is time for a re-look at road engineering and traffic discipline, which will play a key role in minimising road accidents." This call to action underscores that while enforcement is crucial, sustainable safety requires addressing infrastructural design flaws alongside driver behavior.
