ast week, the city had witnessed the worst-ever road accident on National Highway 16 near Marikavalasa.
While six persons were killed on the spot, five succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment the same day.
This was the highest recorded toll in one single collision in the city till date.
The number of fatalities on the highways, both National and State, continues unabated despite the measures being taken by the Traffic Police Department.
Senior officers of the department say that the rate of accidents can be brought down with the concerted effort of various departments such as the traffic police, the NHAI, and the GVMC.
In 2014, the number of accidents was 1,252, of which 326 were fatal and 926 non-fatal. Of the 326 fatalities, 152 occurred on the NH-16 and 20 on the State Highway.
In 2015, the number of accidents so far was 665, of which 175 are fatal and 490 non–fatal. Of the 175 fatalities, 73 were recorded on the NH-16 and 13 on the State Highway. One of the primary reasons for the large number of accidents on the NH 16 is that it passes through a considerable length in the city, 73 km to be precise, from Rajapulova to Tallapuvanipalem.
And, there are a number of vulnerable points on this stretch such as Marikavalasa, Venkojipalem, Automotive junction, Gandhi Nagar, Burma Colony, R&B junction, Sheela Nagar, Akkireddi Palem, Srinagar, Sivaji Nagar, and Lankelapalem junction, according to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K. Mahendra Patrudu. According to him, pedestrians are the worst-hit. In 2014, 145 pedestrians were killed. In 2015, the number so far is 75.
Of the total number of pedestrian deaths, 40 per cent occurred on the NH-16. “There are a number of measures that are needed to be taken and several proposals have been pending with the NHAI and the GVMC,” said Mr. Mahendra Patrudu. Medians lack grills and this allows free flow for pedestrians to cross NH 16l. There is no service road along the major part of the 73-km stretch. There is not a single subway or foot over-bridge. There are no proper bus or truck bays along the NH. Most essentially, there is no illumination or use of radium stickers at most of the zebra crossings. “We have submitted the proposals to NHAI and GVMC, and they are pending. We have identified 16 locations for FOBs and subways,” said ACP (Traffic) K. Prabhakar.
There are a number of measures that are needed to be taken and several proposals made are pending with NHAI and GVMC
