Gopalpur: A 18-km stretch of road on National Highway-16 from Haldiapadar to Girisola in Ganjam district has turned into a death zone with frequent road mishaps on the highway, a report said. This has happened as the consultancy agency has failed to keep the highway in proper shape due to poor maintenance, the report added.
The bad shape of the highway has led to frequent mishaps. Reports said over 76 persons have died over last three years due to road mishaps. During this period, 51 persons sustained critical injuries and 60 persons sustained minor injuries. Travelling on the highway has become a nightmarish experience for the commuters with large craters coming up on the highway.
Frequent rains in this season fill up the craters to the brim following which it becomes difficult for motorists to negotiate the road and results in accident. Moreover, absence of traffic control measures at various intersections and lack of protective barricades has also contributed to the mishaps. People alleged the consultancy agency has endangered the lives of people after reaping huge monetary benefits from the construction of the highway.
Sources said the stretch of road from Haldiapadar to Kanishi is always fraught with risk as large craters have been formed on the road due to frequent and incessant rainfall in this rainy season. The agency is filling up the pits and craters with metals and cement-concrete mixture which comes out after few days and results in road mishaps.
The agency constructs an over-bridge on the highway near the Haldiapadar bus-stand. However, the work has been moving at a snail’s pace even after passage of two years. As a result, vehicular movement often gets disrupted on the highway.
Vehicles providing emergency service like ambulance and fire brigades were often seen getting stuck on the highway. Moreover, traffic personnel engaged by the agency are often remaining absent on duty for which accidents are frequently occurring on the highway. There is provision for putting up protective barricades on the highway but the agency has neglected in doing it and carrying on the over-bridge works.
Residents have warned the agency to finish the over-bridge work on war time footing failing which it will remain responsible for any mishaps occurring on the highway.
PNN