Nagpur: The flyovers in Nagpur are turning out to be death traps! The fatal accidents claiming lives of commuters are a pointer to the fact. Five deaths in two major mishaps on Shaheed Gowari and Sakkardara flyovers within a span of nine days raise a question mark on traffic management and safety measures on these flyovers, according to a report in a local English daily.
In the past eight months, 13 persons were killed and 18 injured seriously in various accidents reported on flyovers in Nagpur city, according to data compiled by Traffic Police
According to the report, the reasons for the accidents have been attributed to the lane cutting, overtaking, over-speeding, using mobile phones while driving are regular violations on the city flyovers by negligent drivers. In fact, the no deterrence of law is the main factor as violators are going scot-free even after snuffing out lives. According to a police official privy to the investigations of the two fatal accidents said that two things were common in these major mishaps– first thing was the vehicles were being driven at break-neck speed and second was the height of the parapet wall, it was not enough to save the bike riders falling off the bridge.
The report further pointed out that in the Sakkardara Flyover case, the negligent car driver was speaking to his wife on mobile phone when he lost control on the steering and knocked dead four people on the flyover.Many errant drivers were found over-speeding their vehicles on the flyovers. Therefore, interceptor vehicles were deployed on Sakkardara and Sadar flyovers to check cases of over-speeding.
The police official also pointed out the problem of lane cutting on the bridges. “Lane cutting and overtaking on the flyover is not allowed as per the rule. However, drivers were found indulging in such errant driving at will,” he claimed. On the issue of parapet wall, the official said that the height of the parapet wall needs to be increased with a protective barrier so that if the accident occurs then victims would not be tossed off the bridge. He gave an example of the Sadar Flyover and said that there were three accidents reported on the Sadar Flyover last year in which the victims fell off the bridge. Soon after, the authorities had installed protective barriers that saved the victim from falling off the flyover, he said.
According to Ravindra Kaskhedikar, Secretary, Janakrosh, the accidents are nothing but murders committed by the negligent drivers. The police should initiate stern and effective action against the accused persons.
