Jajpur: Alleged callousness of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and construction errors have resulted in 200 deaths in 528 road mishaps in between January and November last year. Altogether 315 people have been injured in these mishaps, said sources.
As per the sources, two persons including a former legislator died and seven people sustained injuries in three road mishaps recently.
Binjharpur’s former MLA Arjun Das and his associate Anant Mohanty died after being hit by a sand-laden Hyva on Kharasrota bridge on National Highway-20, Saturday. Similarly, six persons in an ambulance sustained critical injuries after being hit by a dumper at Akhuapada on NH-16, Sunday.
The Union government had announced to undertake four-laning of 133-km long Chandikhole-Talcher highway four years back but the work is going on at snail’s pace, locals alleged. Several plans and efforts are being made to check the increasing road mishaps but all have fallen flat due to lack of proper coordination between the district administration and NHAI.
Errors in construction and bad shape of national highways are stated to be the major reasons behind these rising road accidents. The state government has repeatedly urged the NHAI to fix these problems but the latter is yet to address them.
As a result, Jajpur district has become one of the most accident-prone districts. The district administration has time and again requested the NHAI authorities to attend the meeting held on road safety but the latter continues to skip them.
Even the resolutions adopted in the meetings are not being implemented properly for which road fatalities are rising.
Further, the ongoing expansion work on NH-53 connecting Chandikhole and Duburi has turned the stretch into a deathtrap. The state Commerce and Transport department has repeatedly requested the NHAI for early completion of work but to no avail.
The alleged callous attitude of NHAI authorities, its non-cooperation with the district administration and substandard construction work are stated to be the main reasons behind the rising road mishaps and subsequent deaths. Various stakeholders attending the meetings on road safety have expressed their concern over the issues.
Reports said NHAI divisions in Balasore and Dhenkanal look after the issues pertaining to NHs-16, 20 and 53 passing through Jajpur district.
Although the highway authority claims that the work on NH-16 has been completed, the reality is different as some works could be seen in progress.
The condition of NH-53 and 20 is worse than that of a village road. The road space is getting shrunk and large potholes have come up on the highway making it difficult for the commuters to travel on the highways.
The district administration is empowered to file case in the court of the sub-collector under Section-133 of IPC against the consultancy agency and the contractor for causing harm to the commuters but the former is not taking any action against them. This is only emboldening the NHAI authorities and the consultancy agency to remain recalcitrant, the report added.
–PNN/Agencies