Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Dec 24: If anyone drives a vehicle at high speed inside the limits of the Commissionarate of the city, the danger is imminent. The reason for this is that the reflectors fixed on barricades are not visible till the vehicle reaches very close to the obstruction.
On NH 66 there are more than 30 barricades from Talapady to the border of Udupi district. Barricades are installed on Nanthoor-Moodbidri road as well as Pumpwell-BC Road highway to reduce the speed of vehicles. Heavy vehicles like buses and trucks knock them down and proceed with their journey. But the two-wheelers are in grave danger. The public is urging the administration to remove the old barricades and replace them with new ones or new reflectors on the old ones.
On the night of Friday, a two-wheeler rider collided with the barricade as he could not make out its presence on the road and injured himself near Kodical Cross of Kottara Chowki in the city. It is a common scene near Kulur, where vehicles are seen colliding with barricades as reflectors are not present.
The barricades have become old and are rusted because of rain. The dust has accumulated on the reflectors, which prevents them from not reflecting in the night when the light of vehicles fall on them. The reflectors fitted on the new barricades reflect at a distance of half a km but the older ones do not reflect at all.
Kodical Cross on the flyover at Kottara Chowki has become a dangerous spot as vehicles from service road join the highway at this junction. This issue has occurred due to the unscientific construction of the flyover. Locals say that accidents and traffic jams have become common at this spot.
Panduranga Kukian, a local of Kodical says, "Barricades kept on the road which has reflectors that do not shine when light falls on them, should be replaced with new barricades. Kodical Cross is a danger spot. The divider at that point needs to be closed. Service road should be widened and taken further ahead from the point where it meets the flyover at present. Then only it is possible to avert a huge disaster."
Vinay Gaonkar, DCP, crime and traffic says, "We will immediately take action to install new barricades where the reflectors of the ones placed at present are not working."