Frequent accidents on Pune-Bangalore National Highway is a major cause of concern. Even though all the other departments are trying to address the problem, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the main stakeholder is quiet over the issue. Several road experts blame the unscientific road design as the reason for recent mishaps, which has claimed many lives.
Wednesday morning also witnessed a major accident at the city wall’s intersection with the NH 4. Two vehicles, one transporting drugs to Rajasthan and the other clothes to Maharastra collided with the guide wall and fell 20 feet onto the service road.
Truck cleaners Hemaraj Gujjar and Chandra suffered minor injuries and were treated at the district hospital. A Traffic officer said faulty diversion from NH 4 to the city is the real cause of the accident. The contractor is not maintaining the road as required and this results in mishaps.
He also pointed out the guide wall that was broken a couple of months ago and said, “Even after the accident in February, neither NHAI nor the contractor has repaired the wall. This shows their lethargic attitude.” He added that instead of a steep curve, the NHAI should have given a diversion near Kyadigere village. This, according to him, would have eased traffic and prevented mishaps.
Advocate Shivu Yadav concurred that the accidents were occurring due to negligence and unscientific design of roads by the NHAI. He also said a proper probe should be conducted on NHAI and the contractors who are maintaining the Pune-Bangalore National Highway stretch between Hiriyur and Davangere. During June last year, Union Minister of Road Transport Oscar Fernandes and his deputy Sarvey Sathyanarayana visited the district and promised to help with funds. However nothing has resulted.
This shows the negligent attitude, both on the part of the government and bureaucrats. Unless the problems are rectified, nothing can prevent mishaps on this stretch, which now has become a death trap.