Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jul 27: The inadequacies of four lane work being conducted on national highway (NH) here are multifarious. The drain between divider constructed by Navayuga Company for outflow of water is unscientific. As it is broad, two wheeler riders often drive directly into it when trying to cross over to the other side of the road without having to cover a long distance and then take a u-turn, but instead, invite danger. Failure to fix even a wire mesh a mesh to prevent two wheelers from riding in it has angered and annoyed local people here.

The bike accident at Kumbhashi in the taluk sometime back also had happened due to gap in the divider. Several such accidents have been taking place here. Motor bike riders choose this dangerous method as a short cut to reach the other side of the road without thinking about the likely adverse consequences. Though it is illegal, such incidents happen due to lack of knowledge or negligence among bike riders. If drains had been laid across the highway to prevent entry of two wheelers, there would have been no such issues.

Such gaps are visible throughout the four lane roads. The company executing the work is not doing anything about it. People ride on those dangerous and unsafe gaps thinking that it is an easy way out. Metal mesh could have been fixed to close the gaps between dividers to prevent two-wheelers from trying to practice this short cur. The width of the gaps can also be reduced.

The companies should follow safety measures during the construction of highways, duly taking into consideration safety aspects of the people. However, no such precautions are being taken in Udupi district. The contractor company remains indifferent to the potholes on the road and seems to be interested only in collecting toll charges.

The unnecessary gap between the dividers has turned into authorized roads for two wheeler riders. They rush in it thinking that they can reach early. Vehicles approaching from other direction hit the two wheelers causing injuries or death. Who is responsible for this scenario? The bike riders get blamed for careless riding but nobody asks why huge gap is kept near divider. Nobody objects for the unscientific dividers. Those get approved by officials backed by experience of building such roads, even after knowing the risk. Concerned company needs to be awakened in this connection.