Ahmedabad: Just few months ago, a major road accident on SG Highway shocked the city, resulting in the loss of nine lives and injuries to 13 others. Now, data from EMRI 108 emergency services has revealed that the road stretch between Sarkhej and Thaltej remains a highly accident-prone area.

Data from EMRI 108 until October 30 this year shows that Ahmedabad received 21,913 calls related to road traffic accidents (RTAs), averaging 73 calls daily and three calls every hour. The top 25 locations, predominantly in the western city areas, contributed to 14,305 or 65% of the total calls. Among the top 10 locations, five were situated on or near SG Road, according to the data.

The pattern in 2023 indicates that Sola emerged as the top location with 437 accident calls, followed by Bodakdev (430), Navrangpura (378), Bopal (376), and IIM crossroads (356). Comparing it with 2018 data from January to October, Bodakdev was the most accident-prone with 534 calls, followed by Gota (513), Chandkheda (449), Navrangpura (448), and Prahladnagar (446).

A senior EMRI official noted that RTA calls have increased by 34% in five years, rising from 16,342 in 2018 in the city. The official added, “The number of accidents also reflects the growth in the city’s population and an increase in the number of ambulances responding to emergencies within a two-kilometer radius of the assigned location. The data indicates potential accident hotspots.”

Dr. Pravin Kanabar, the president of the Ahmedabad Traffic Consultative Committee (ATCC), emphasized that the initial step in preventing fatal road accidents is to identify major hotspots. He stated, “Once these hotspots are recognized, strict implementation of the ‘Three Es’—engineering, enforcement, and education—is crucial to prevent the loss of precious lives.”

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) spanning from 2012 to 2021 reveals a gradual increase in the number of fatal accidents in Ahmedabad, rising from 330 to 403 over the decade. In 2021, the last year for which data was published, 1,063 individuals suffered injuries. Recent reports from the Union road transport ministry highlighted that Gujarat witnessed the loss of nine lives daily due to the non-use of seatbelts or failure to wear helmets. DeshGujarat