Udupi: Deadly black spots in Brahmavar - Unsafe roads claiming lives daily


Pics: Madhava

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Nov 16: Brahmavara Taluk has become notorious for several high-risk zones along the national highway, where poor road conditions have claimed countless lives. Commuters and residents continue to suffer due to unsafe road designs, lack of pedestrian crossings, and the absence of vital infrastructure such as flyovers and service roads, leading to accidents on a daily basis.

One of the most hazardous spots is near the Brahmavar bus stop, where commuters are forced to look in all directions to cross. Traffic converges from multiple points, yet there is no flyover to streamline the flow. Despite public pleas during the road’s construction for a flyover, these were ignored, resulting in numerous fatal accidents and making the area particularly dangerous for pedestrians.

Another deadly spot is the intersection near Mahesh Hospital. Despite being close to SMS College, SMS English Medium School, a popular wedding hall, and a sports field, there is no service road. Commuters often have to take a 5-km detour or drive against traffic, increasing the risk of accidents. Locals are urging authorities to address this issue, advocating for a service road to reduce illegal and risky maneuvers.

The stretch near Dharmavaram Auditorium has one of the highest accident rates in the area. Many commuters take shortcuts against traffic flow due to the lack of a service road from Uppinakote to Brahmavara. Residents are demanding immediate attention from authorities to construct a safe, accessible service road and prevent further loss of life.

The Akashvani Circle, a high-speed intersection where vehicles join the national highway from Barkur and Car Street, is another critical accident zone. Vehicles accelerating on the slope meet speeding highway traffic, making the intersection particularly treacherous.

Another dangerous feature is the cattle pass built in the middle of Brahmavara, where there is minimal cattle traffic. The narrow underpass lacks visibility for drivers, posing risks for pedestrians, especially those heading to the nearby mini Vidhana Soudha. An unsafe opening in the road divider serves as the main access to this government facility, creating dangerous conditions for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Taxi and maxi-cab drivers have voiced their frustration, highlighting the daily accidents they witness. One driver said, "Every day, we see four to five accidents on this road. Our MLA held a meeting at the mini Vidhana Soudha, heard our concerns, and promised a solution. But if the solution is anything like the one at Santhekatte, we don't want it. That road is extremely dangerous. Accidents happen, and we are the ones taking victims to the hospital, only to be questioned by the police. No one seems to acknowledge the dangers on this highway. There are no traffic police during peak hours, especially when children are returning from school. As a school bus driver, I can tell you, no one lets us pass in this heavy traffic."

Uday, an auto driver and member of the Varamballi Panchayat, shared his concerns: “Elderly people struggle to cross the road here, and accidents are frequent. Auto drivers are often the first to respond to accidents. A flyover is urgently needed in this area.”

Auto drivers near Mahesh Hospital spoke about the dangers caused by the lack of a service road. “The divider here, without a proper service road, causes frequent accidents,” one driver explained. “A service road is needed from Doopadakatte to BC Road. We have witnessed many tragedies—one teacher even passed away in our arms. Students are forced to walk on the main road, where vehicles approach from all directions, making it incredibly dangerous for them,” he added.

Auto drivers near Akashvani Circle expressed similar concerns: "Road construction here began in 2009, and now it is 2024, yet no flyover has been built. The planning is outdated by 25 years, and vehicle numbers have surged since then. Accidents occur daily; we've stationed an ambulance near our auto stand. MP Kota Srinivas Poojary travels this route and should be aware of the issue. Immediate action is needed. Is the delay due to lack of funds or engineering expertise? The cattle pass is ineffective, and during emergencies, we are forced to take dangerous routes.”

Locals and commuters continue to call for urgent reforms to make the roads safer, demanding that authorities take immediate action to address these hazardous black spots and prevent further loss of life.


 

 
  

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Comment on this article

  • nitin shetty, bangalore, udupi

    Sat, Nov 16 2024

    all over the world wherever there small road connecting to highways/national highways there are flyovers and under the flyover there are signals and free u-terns for u tern of vehicles from highway. i have seen it in gulf. but here mangalore - kundapur highway there are no signals and no flyovers where there small roads connect to national highway. highway is constructed as per the contractor convenient . not keeping in safety of public.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Raheja Waterfront

    Sat, Nov 16 2024

    Bangladesh is Better ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse


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