Bhubaneswar, June 20: The transport department has proposed to construct a flyover and an underpass at Khandagiri Square, which has been identified as a black spot.

According to a central government specification, if a site on the national highway sees more than 10 accidents in a year, it is referred to as a black spot.

Thirty persons were killed in more than 50 accidents that have taken place at Khandagiri Square in the past three years. Transport officials said they had proposed several immediate remedies, including proper electronic traffic signals at the square, installation of traffic sign glow boards on all four sides of the road at a distance of 100 metre prior to the square and restriction on parking of vehicles in the area.

"We had also suggested several permanent measures, including construction of a flyover, foot overbridge, construction of service roads with proper design to merge with the main road, proper designing of the stiff gradient roads connecting to the junction and provision of sufficient street lights," said regional transport officer, Bhubaneswar II, S.K. Behera.

In December 2013, three persons were killed and a dozen were injured when a sand-laden tipper coming down the Khandagiri Hills hit dozen of vehicles at the square. In another accident in March, 2014 three persons including two engineering students were killed in a road mishap at Khandagiri Square.

"Several major institutions exist around the junction, which connects to Jagamara and Ghatikia. There is usually heavy traffic at the square, especially because of the presence of a large shopping mall and two kalyan mandaps. The road connecting Baramunda with Khandagiri and Ghatikia with Khandagiri slope down steeply towards the square," said a transport official.

The transport officials have also found several reasons for frequent accidents at the square.

"The existing service roads are not properly designed and connected to the main road and there is dearth of traffic signals, signage, road markings and street lights. The improper road gradient is not desirable for roads passing through cities. Besides, widening of the road is yet to be completed," said an official.

The transport department and the police have recently conducted a survey of the square and submitted the findings to the state transport department.

"We have also proposed the construction of a flyover bridge at the junction to ease traffic flow," said a transport official.