The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Road overbridge or death trap?

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Thursday, Jul 09, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Road overbridge or death trap?

Marri Ramu

8 persons killed and several hurt in accidents within 6 months of its inauguration

PHOTO: P.V.SIVAKUMAR

Matter of concern: This RoB at Kompally has become accident-prone. —

HYDERABAD: It was supposed to check frequent stoppage of traffic, relieving commuters of a traumatising wait for clearance. Instead, the road overbridge (RoB) at Kompally is becoming a death trap since it was thrown open to the public.

Eight lives were lost while scores of others were grievously hurt in accidents on this RoB within six months of its inauguration. The ‘dance of death’ is likely to continue with the officials concerned taking little measures to prevent it.

As per the plan, two RoBs were to be constructed side by side at Kompally on the Nizamabad-Hyderabad highway. The necessity of RoBs arose as the high volume of traffic on the highway is forced to stop at the railway level crossing frequently to give passage to trains.

Perennially busy

Being a highway and the only shortest bypass route for Vijayawada-bound heavy vehicles coming from Mumbai, the road is always busy. Within two minutes of closing the railway gate, the queues of vehicles lengthen for long distances on either side. Vehicles coming from Medchal and Kompally sides try to cross the railway track hurriedly only to jam the narrow stretch.

To make sure that this does not recur, construction of two RoBs was planned. One would be for the traffic coming towards Kompally from Medchal side. The second one was for vehicles going from Kompally side to Medchal and beyond.

The first RoB was completed and opened six months ago while work on the second one is still on.

“We don’t know what compulsions the officials had but the single RoB has become synonymous with accidents with vehicles coming from Medchal and Kompally colliding head on,” says Srinivas, owner of Rio Club. Absence of lights on the RoB is adding to the woes of the commuters and number of accidents.

Vehicles are driven at high speed on this highway as it has four lanes with a median segregating the oncoming traffic. Both from Medchal and Kompally sides, they come onto the RoB and tend to maintain the same speed. There are no signboards to alert the road users on the danger involved.

The RoB is wide enough to accommodate only two heavy vehicles at a time and attempts at overtaking are resulting in accidents.

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