Defects on NH-16 roads leading to mishaps

Defects on NH-16 roads leading to mishaps
x
Highlights

In all, 126 defects have been identified concerning to road engineering on the national highway (NH-16) from Narsipatnam cross roads in Visakhapatnam to Itchapuram in Srikakulam covering 315 km.

Srikakulam: In all, 126 defects have been identified concerning to road engineering on the national highway (NH-16) from Narsipatnam cross roads in Visakhapatnam to Itchapuram in Srikakulam covering 315 km.

In the wake of rise in accidents on the NH-16, the state government expressed serious concern and departments concerned also have been put into action. In this back drop, a joint study was conducted by the state transport department, GITAM Engineering College in Visakhapatnam and Maharaja Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju College of Engineering (MVGRCE) in Vizianagaram to establish reasons for accidents.

They conducted a detailed study and submitted a report to all the departments concerned by highlighting defects which are leading to frequent accidents.

Only in Srikakulam district from Pydibhimavaram to Itchapuram, which covers 173 km distance, 2,588 accidents occurred all along the NH-16 and 768 persons died in a span of 29 months from January 2015 to May 2017.

The study concentrated on road bridges, side railings, foot paths, drainage, ‘T’ shape intersections, service roads, bus bays, narrow bridges, encroachments, blind curves, jungle clearance, maintenance of highway, merger points of village roads with NH-16, damage of kerbed walls, insufficient earthen shoulders, road side parking of heavy vehicles, road markings, sign boards and unauthorised medians.

For instance at Itchapuram bypass, unauthorised median and roadside parking of heavy vehicles led to more accidents. At Savaradevipeta near Itchapuram ‘T’ shape intersection, lack of bus bay and service road leading to accidents where a temple was located adjacent to road. At Palasa approach road id not properly aligned with culvert slab and looks like a speed breaker on NH. Blind curves also found from Narasannapeta to Bhogapuram.

“We have made arrangements like CCTV cameras, signal lights, sign boards, warning marks, blinkers and speed guns at all vulnerable locations the for accidents on NH-16”, Superintendent of Police J Brahma Reddy and deputy transport commissioner (DTC), Ch.Sridevi told The Hans India.

In addition to these measures, the study report was sent to the NH authorities and they said that all defects will be rectified during the extension of NH from existing four lanes to six lanes which has been proposed, they elaborated.

Show Full Article
Print Article
Next Story
More Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENTS