Rising Accident Risks in Palasuni: The Consequences of Wrong Side Driving and Irregular Parking | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Wrong side driving, haphazard parking and encroachment have led to an increase in accidents on the NH-16 stretch near Palasuni here, residents and experts said.
On Thursday, a 55-year-old man was run over by a speeding truck coming from the Cuttack side while crossing the busy highway at Palasuni. After his death, locals staged a road blockade.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased was first hit by a two-wheeler coming from the wrong side near Palasuni Durga Puja mandap, and fell on the road after losing balance. At this point, the truck ran over him, killing him on the spot.
“Wrong side driving is a major road safety hazard. Riders driving in the opposite direction not only risk their own life but also that of others. Strict enforcement is needed to check wrong side driving,” said Syed Maqbool Ali, a road safety expert.
Ali, a former member of National Road Safety Council, further said that haphazard vehicle parking on the road and encroachment by street vendors are other reasons which lead to a rise in accidents.
“Pedestrians need to be careful due to such menace. The man who died on Thursday fell victim to such a road safety hazard. Authorities could be blamed but people also need to change their behaviour,” Ali opined.
Rasulgarh resident Tanmay Baliarsingh said people park their vehicles on the highway near Palasuni, which is dangerous. “This problem is very significant, especially near the bus stop in Palasuni, where motorists drop and pick up others,” he said.
Tanmay said at night, hundreds of inter- and intra-state buses stop at Palasuni to pick up and drop passengers. “People coming to pick up and drop others park their vehicles on the road. It also leads to street vendors carrying out business at the site,” he said.
Mayor Sulochana Das said regular enforcement drives are being carried out to remove unregistered street vendors from different localities. “Commissionerate police are looking after haphazard vehicle parking and wrong side driving,” she said.
On Thursday, a 55-year-old man was run over by a speeding truck coming from the Cuttack side while crossing the busy highway at Palasuni. After his death, locals staged a road blockade.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased was first hit by a two-wheeler coming from the wrong side near Palasuni Durga Puja mandap, and fell on the road after losing balance. At this point, the truck ran over him, killing him on the spot.
“Wrong side driving is a major road safety hazard. Riders driving in the opposite direction not only risk their own life but also that of others. Strict enforcement is needed to check wrong side driving,” said Syed Maqbool Ali, a road safety expert.
Ali, a former member of National Road Safety Council, further said that haphazard vehicle parking on the road and encroachment by street vendors are other reasons which lead to a rise in accidents.
“Pedestrians need to be careful due to such menace. The man who died on Thursday fell victim to such a road safety hazard. Authorities could be blamed but people also need to change their behaviour,” Ali opined.
Rasulgarh resident Tanmay Baliarsingh said people park their vehicles on the highway near Palasuni, which is dangerous. “This problem is very significant, especially near the bus stop in Palasuni, where motorists drop and pick up others,” he said.
Tanmay said at night, hundreds of inter- and intra-state buses stop at Palasuni to pick up and drop passengers. “People coming to pick up and drop others park their vehicles on the road. It also leads to street vendors carrying out business at the site,” he said.
Mayor Sulochana Das said regular enforcement drives are being carried out to remove unregistered street vendors from different localities. “Commissionerate police are looking after haphazard vehicle parking and wrong side driving,” she said.
