The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has introduced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at enhancing road safety and emergency response across the National Capital Region (NCR). These proposals include mandatory service lanes, dedicated accident recovery lanes, trauma centres, and heli-ambulance infrastructure.
Mandatory Service Lanes by 2030
Under the proposed framework, service lanes will become mandatory along all national and state highways and expressways by 2030. These lanes will cater to cyclists, pedestrians, two-wheelers, e-rickshaws, and other non-motorised traffic. An official stated, “The move is intended to separate vulnerable road users from high-speed vehicular traffic, reducing accidents and improving mobility for a large segment of daily commuters who currently share carriageways with heavy and fast-moving vehicles.”
Accident Recovery Lanes
The NCRPB has also proposed dedicated accident recovery lanes on all national highways and expressways within two years, and on state highways within five years. These lanes will enable quicker removal of disabled or accident-hit vehicles, restoring traffic flow and preventing secondary accidents.
Trauma Centres and Heli-Ambulance Infrastructure
Recognising the importance of prompt medical attention, the board has proposed fully equipped trauma centres at intervals of 50–60 km, or within one hour’s travel time, to ensure victims receive care during the critical golden hour. These centres will include advanced emergency facilities, blood banks, and specialised trauma management units. The NCRPB suggests utilising land around highway fuel stations to minimise fresh land acquisition.
For air evacuation, the board calls for trauma centres to include helipads wherever feasible, and for all expressways to have helipads or airstrips approximately every 100 km. It also recommends incorporating performance-based navigation systems into the NCR aviation plan, with day and night helicopter access to emergency hospitals.
Infrastructure Improvements
Beyond safety, the NCRPB emphasises better use of existing infrastructure. Recommendations include time-bound development of interchanges connecting expressways with national and state highways, widespread LED and solar-powered lighting along highways and urban roads, and uninterrupted cycling infrastructure across major urban centres, including dedicated cycle tracks and route continuity at intersections.
Impact on Road Safety
Urban planners believe these proposals, if implemented, could significantly improve road safety in a region that continues to record a high number of accidents annually. The recommendations are expected to guide highway planning and infrastructure projects undertaken by state governments and road agencies across the NCR.
