Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jun 26: After a long wait due to various reasons, the widening work of national highway 66 is nearing completion. But figures relating to accidents which have taken place between the 25 kilometres stretch of the highway between Hejamady and Udyavar near here during the last 27 months give cause for grave concern.
During the period from January 2016 to March 2018, 265 accidents happened as per the records maintained in Kaup and Padubidri police stations. 76 persons died and 297 suffered injuries of varying degrees. These accidents reveal that Udyavar - Korangrapady Junction, road in front of Halima Sabju Hall at Udyavar, Udyavar Junction, Udyavar bridge, Katpadi forest gate, Tekal Thota, Katapadi junction, Kallapu bridge, Kambala Gadde, Pangala Kattikere, Vidyavarhaka school, Pangala temple, Pangala bridge, Uliyargoli, Polipu-Uchila-Muloor junction, Uchila town, Uchila - Paniyuru junction, Uchila - Yermal junction, Yermal mosque, Naralthaya shrine, Padubidri town and Beedubadi, as well as Hejamady Junction, have been the spots which have become notorious for frequent accidents.
One of the major causes for these accidents is the lack of proper service roads at places where rural roads join the highway. The people, either for want of service road or to avoid taking a long detour, try to drive their vehicles on the wrong side of the road to save in distance and fuel and become victims of accidents. It is a common scene for two wheelers to break the rules and cross to the other side of the road through dividers.
On account of high rate of accidents and injuries, this stretch of the highway has been earning a bad name. A report about the accident zones here had been sent to the department of highways but the department has not initiated any step to address the issues, make changes in the design or widen the highways at the said spots. The police say that they have been taking all precautions to avoid the accidents and that the deputy commissioner of the district has also been informed about the steps to be taken to regulate accidents.
An auto driver, Anil Shetty, says that non-construction of bus stands at various spots on the highway has been giving rise to confusions and accidents. He blames improper connecting roads and inadequate dividers for a number of deaths and injuries. He suggests the police to keep constant vigil at notorious junctions and install CCTV cameras to bring culprits to book.
Kaup police circle inspector, Halamurthy Rao, says that his department has undertaken various measures like erection of barricades in dangerous circles, imposing penalty on people moving on wrong side of the road, installation of warning signs, and educating people. He feels that if the vehicle drivers take proper care and precautions to save their own lives, many of the accidents and injuries can be avoided.