Plans for two flyovers spanning about 4.5 km in the accident-prone Danua Valley on the GT Road near the Jharkhand-Bihar border have moved forward with the preparation of a detailed project report, but construction cannot begin until mandatory clearances are secured, according to officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The proposed structures are intended to address a dangerous stretch in Hazaribag district that carries more than 20,000 vehicles a day. The corridor links Jharkhand with Bihar and other parts of the country, making it a significant route for passenger and freight movement. Its steep gradients and sharp curves have contributed to frequent, often fatal, crashes.
The valley is locally known as ‘Maut ki Ghati’ because of its accident history. Administrative records cited in the report show that more than 250 people have died on the stretch over the past five years. In the last year alone, 115 accidents and 38 fatalities were reported. The figures underline the safety problem that the proposed flyovers are intended to address.
A crash on November 9, in which seven members of a family travelling towards Varanasi died after their vehicle was hit by a tanker and a coal-laden truck, has renewed attention on the corridor. The family was reportedly carrying a body for last rites when the collision occurred.
NHAI conducted soil testing and technical inspections in August and September to assess the feasibility of the project. NHAI project director Ashutosh Soni said the DPR had been sent to the authorities for mandatory sanctions and that the proposal had also been forwarded to the Ranchi forest department office for approval. He said efforts were under way to take the project forward at the earliest.
The clearance process is the immediate requirement before the proposal can move towards implementation. The report does not specify the estimated construction cost, a tender schedule, the proposed design details or a construction completion date. It also does not state whether the flyovers would cover the full accident-prone section or only selected curves and gradients within the 4.5-km alignment.
Residents have been demanding a permanent safety intervention on the route. Mahesh Saw of Chordaha village in Chauparan said the local community had sought a solution for a long time. College student Shekhar Kumar said residents wanted the flyovers built soon, citing the number of families that had lost relatives in accidents on the stretch.
The proposal also has political backing. Barhi MLA Manoj Kumar Yadav met Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi in May and sought intervention for construction of the flyovers. The next formal step identified by NHAI is the securing of the required sanctions and forest approval.
