Two months after the Pune city traffic police department conducted a detailed study of the 34km ‘killer stretch’ of Katraj Kivade Phata stretch on Mumbai-Bangalore highway pointing out 20 accident prone spots, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is yet to wake up from its slumber.
Despite having the audit report from none other than the city traffic department, the NHAI has turned a blind eye and locals allege that their inaction is leading to further loss of life on the killer stretch.
The report from city traffic department had identified 20 spots where there are open punctures on highway, lack of underpass, no signages of construction activity, lack of crash barriers etc.
On Monday, team dna visited a few spots along the Pune-Bangalore highway stretch starting from Chandni Chowk to Wakad and were shocked to see a few glaring mistakes that need urgent attention.
Suhas Joshi (22), student of Indira college, said, “The pedestrian subway is filled with drainage water due to which we have to run on the highway to cross the road.”
Rakesh Thribhuvan, a resident of Wakad, said, “Everyday there is someone or the other who is involved in accidents. The main reason is lack of service road and underpass that force local residents to break the traffic rule.”
Blaming the poor road infrastructure, police inspector of Hinjewadi traffic division (traffic) Sanjay Bhambhure, said, “Open punctures made by the local residents and shopkeepers at various locations is posing threat to the commuters plying on the highway. Lack of signboards and underpass force the pedestrian to cross the road at the risk of their life. We have submitted a detailed report to the NHAI however there is no action taken to curb the issue.”
Meanwhile, NHAI shirked its responsibility stating that a third party agency is responsible for maintaining the stretch.
NHAI project director Rajesh Kaundal, said, “We have submitted the report to the concerned agency and asked them to complete the work at the earliest. In order to avert any accident we have put drums, small gunny bags and caution strips on the stretch.”
In Photos
Location: Opposite Sai petrol pump
Problem: The opening between the highway and the service road is filled and a temporary road has been created to accommodate pedestrians and vehicle access to the highway
Solution:
*Install a 3 feet separation between the highway and the service roads
*Install guardrails
*Clear debris in the vicinity of the existing divider
Location: Opposite Indira College
Problems
*Pedestrian underpass is filled with water
* Drainage of the nearby hotel has been diverted to the underpass
*Service road is filled with debris
*The potion between the highway and the service road is used as parking lot
Solution
*Open the pedestrian underpass
*Separate the highway and the service road
*Establish 'No parking' zone
Location: Opposite Balewadi Stadium
Problems
*Pedestrians cross the highway
*Closed dividers are being used to accommodate vehicles
*Foliage in median area impairs visibility
*Road is downhill
Solution
*Underpass to be made on the service road
*Foliage in the median area needs to be trimmed
*A more permanent structure should be installed in the median to accommodate VIP movements
*Install 100 m guardrails
Location: Opposite HERML company
Problems
*Broken divider
*Improper army wall
*Sharp turns and downhill
Solution
Signage needed
Lane marking
Raised pavement markers to be installed
Rumble strips
Retro-relective delineators on the army wall
Location: Near Wakad bridge
Problems
*No underpass for pedestrians
*No traffic signs or marking
*Defunct light in the bridge
Solution
*Complete the underpass
*Install signages
*Existing streetlight should be made operational
anuj.ismail@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}