Heavy autos run riot on National Highways in Odisha, enforcement goes sideways

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The mind-numbing dying {of electrical} engineer Sumanta Das within the tragic street mishap at Palasuni Square of the City has did not get up enforcement companies from their deep slumber and tokenism. Heavy autos, principally cargo-laden ones, proceed to violate guidelines on the nationwide freeway passing by means of the City however with out arresting consideration of both Traffic Wing of Commissionerate Police or Transport Department squads.

A easy drive alongside the NH stretch would present most of those autos don’t stick with the left-most lane. Trying driving within the evening and it might be amply clear how these autos flout guidelines with impunity. Apart from racing with one another and overtaking from all sides, the drivers pose severe risk to co-commuters. That there’s little or no vigilance doesn’t assist.

With the NH operating by means of a really busy stretch of the City and additional in direction of Cuttack, the entire stretch turns right into a nightmare through the peak night hours for the two-wheelers, vehicles and different smaller autos. And mishaps lurk round.

Though Commissionerate Police had finalised a stretch between Palasuni and Gopalpur on National Highway 16 for lane driving, the experiment couldn’t be applied. Sources mentioned implementation of the rule has been delayed as building and restore actions are underway at a number of stretches which is but to be made six-lane fully. 

“The plan to implement lane driving could not be implemented due to encroachments in many areas like Pahal. Besides, six-lane work is yet to be completed from Cuttack to Chandikhol. Government is not keen to implement lane driving rule in a small stretch in the Twin City,” mentioned an official.

Lane driving for heavy autos was first made obligatory by Commissionerate Police throughout early days of Urban Policing when DG-ranked officer Bijay Sharma was Police Commissioner. In 2016, the then Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner YB Khurania had launched ‘Keep it Left’ marketing campaign to create consciousness amongst heavy automobile drivers. However, the marketing campaign didn’t proceed for lengthy.

In current occasions when Commissionerate Police deliberate to re-enforce lane driving, truck house owners reportedly demanded a authorities notification to make sure this self-discipline on the roads.As authorities has not issued any notification, heavy automobile drivers have a scant regard for the legislation and could be seen freely driving throughout all lanes on the stretch between Jatni and Jagatpur which is about 39.8 km. Trucks, dumpers, and buses are seen not sticking to the left-most carriageway leading to accidents and site visitors congestion as nicely. 

The left most lanes are reserved for the heaviest and slowest transferring  autos, the center lanes for motion of sunshine autos, whereas the proper most lane is used for dashing autos and for overtaking.“We are planning to start enforcement after receiving approval from the government. However, we cannot fine drivers for lane violations as the government is yet to notify the rule,” mentioned a senior official of Department of Commerce and Transport. 

Odisha recorded a rise in fatalities in street mishaps by about 7.24 per cent throughout 2021 as in comparison with 2020. Last 12 months, a complete of 10,984 street accident instances had been reported wherein 5,081 folks died and 9,782 had been injured.