LUCKNOW, July 17 -- To reduce the rising number of road accidents, traffic authorities in Lucknow have launched a road safety initiative to revamp 16 identified accident-prone locations or "black spots" across the city. The project shifts focus from enforcement to preventive infrastructure improvements, a state government official said on Wednesday. In collaboration with the Public Works Department (PWD) and Lucknow Municipal Corporation, the traffic police have finalised a proposal to install signages, speed breakers, and road dividers at key hotspots. According to the officials, these steps follow years of accident data showing repeated fatalities and serious injuries in specific areas, including stretches along Lucknow-Sultanpur, Deva, and Itaunja roads. Officials said the initiative aims to treat black spots through engineering solutions and better planning. PWD engineers have conducted site inspections and submitted a proposal for state-level budget approval. Work is expected to start immediately after funding is cleared. Between March and April, PWD completed upgrades at 20 other locations, including sections of Sultanpur Road near Ansal and Dial crossings. A proposal of Rs 6 crore has been submitted to the state government. Officials said work will begin once the funds are approved, with a goal to reduce accident rates through structural safety interventions. According to the ministry of road transport and highways, a black spot on National Highways is a 500-metre stretch with either 5 or more serious accidents or 10 or more deaths in the past three years. Some of the worst-affected areas include the Arjunganj stretch on the Lucknow-Sultanpur Road, which has recorded 17 accidents in the past three years, resulting in six deaths and 17 serious injuries....