Over 200 lives lost due to road mishaps on NH-8 so far this year
Gurugram: National Highway-8 continues to not only be the busiest but also the most unsafe route in Gurugram for lakhs of commuters. According to official data, 215 lives have reportedly been lost in just five months this year.
The industrial area in South Zone, which includes areas of Manesar, Bilaspur and Pataudi – all of which witness heavy vehicular movement – lead this dubious list of accident-prone areas.
More than technical factors, the loss of lives due to road mishaps has more to do with carelessness of drivers. According to an official of Gurugram Traffic Police, more than 60 per cent of deadly road accidents are caused due to over-speeding.
Taking cognisance of the problem, the authorities have come up with several remedial initiatives, among which is the installation of speed detector cameras, punitive action against overloaded vehicles and stationing more traffic officials at the Delhi -Jaipur highway.
In the last five years, more than a thousand cases of accidents have caused the loss of more than 400 lives. Most victims in road mishaps have been pedestrians and two-wheeler riders.
Faulty road designs, poor signage systems and haphazard management of traffic on major roads of the Millennium City are making them susceptible to accidents, claim experts.
Each year, more than 1,000 accidents that are reported on the NH-8, leading to thedeath of hundreds of commuters.
In 2016, in the 1,201 accidents reported on the highway, 420 casualties and 1,213 injuries were caused. In 2015, 1,142 accidents took place, which caused 435 deaths and 1,087 injuries. Last year, the number of casualties sharply rose to 481. In 2014, there were 1,180 accidents reported, which led to 430 deaths.
Several factors today make driving an unsafe affair in Gurugram. To begin with, there are no proper cuts and diversions for commuters on prominent roads.
There is also little to no action taken by authorities in cases of over-speeding and rash driving. There is also no proper system in place for regulation of three wheelers and private buses plying in the city.
"With the city seeing massive jams due to ongoing construction activities, most two-wheelers keep violating traffic rules and make themselves as well as others susceptible to accidents," said Rajeev Verma, a city resident.
Shortage of facilities like foot over bridges on busy city roads also adds to the dangers for pedestrians. On an average there are nine accidents that occur daily in Gurugram.
