Dhenkanal: Illegal diversions and unfinished road works have led to an upsurge in road accidents in Dhenkanal district and staggering figures of the resultant loss of lives have come to the fore. The issue assumes significance as an alarming 150 lives were lost and 347 persons injured in as many as 337 road accidents that have occurred in the district during the past 10 months from January to October this year.
The roads have turned into death traps taking precious human lives while critically injuring many others in various mishaps on a daily basis. If the casualties are any indication, the National Highway55 and National Highway-53 are increasingly proving to be killer highways for the commuters passing through Dhenkanal district. The matter came to the fore at a meeting of the District Road Safety Committee recently held at the Sadbhavna Conference Hall of the district Collectorate.
The Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Lalit Mohan Behera presided over the meeting. Behera asked the stakeholders like the Regional Transport Department, Works department, and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to strictly abide by the decisions taken in the meetings as a means to prevent the increasing road mishaps on the highways.
In the meeting, he also drew the attention of NHAI authorities to the illegal intersections, diversions, or cuttings being made connecting the roadside dhabas on the NH-55 and NH-53. He assured that stringent action will be taken against the violators after a written complaint is filed with the SP. He also stressed on completion of the unfinished road works on the highways by the month of March. According to reports available from the Regional Transport department, 150 lives were lost and 347 persons injured in 337 road accidents that took place on the highways from January to October.
However, 163 persons had died during the same period in 2022, departmental sources said. Members attending the meeting urged the authorities of Works department to put up signages and information plaques on the roads under their authority and near schools and colleges in the civic body area. Members also demanded to evict the stray cattle and bulls roaming on roads in the town. They also demanded immediate repair of the road connecting Bhuban block via Kapilash, Gondia, and Sarangi in the district. Regional Transport Officer Pranaya Kumar Mishra, motor vehicle inspector Debashis Swain, executive officer Debi Prasad Rout of Dhenkanal Municipality, Sadar SDPO Bibhuti Bhushan Mohapatra, and members of various committees including the road safety committee attended the meeting.