Keep people off the roads

Hyderabad: Following a survey, the Hyderabad traffic police has stated that among the most crucial measures to cut down deaths from road mishaps are installation of foot over-bridges, pedestrian guard railings and proper footpaths in accident-prone areas.

Among the “black spots” listed by the traffic cops, around 60 per cent of the areas have massive pedestrian movements and crossings.

In the limits of Abids, Begumpet, Panjagutta, Saifabad, SR Nagar and Jubilee Hills police stations, more than 50 FoBs, Zebra crossings, and pedestrian guard railings are needed.

Experts point out that the new government’s vision to make Hyderabad a global city will be a total failure if the authorities keep ignoring facilities like footpaths, subways, zebra crossings, and foot over-bridges.

“The ongoing Metro rail works, private encroachments like hawkers and shopkeepers are taking up the pavements, pushing pedestrians onto the dangerous road. Government agencies pay no attention to this issue,” said Mr Malcolm D. Wolfe, a road safety expert who runs an NGO to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths in Hyderabad.

Traffic police officials said that in most of the busy and wider roads, it’s impossible for pedestrians to cross. “Under Begumpet traffic police limits, at Plaza, Anand Theatre and Rasoolpura, the vehicle flow is so high that a pedestrian cannot cross safely. In Nallakunta at Vidyanagar junction, there are no footpaths and accidents are regular here,” said a top Traffic Police official.

The traffic police, which has made a list of the places that need infrastructure, ex-plained that their findings would help the Municipal Corporation to take further steps with ease. “Our findings on accident spots and suggestions on remedies have been given to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, who should be installing them appropriately. Once the infrastructures are in place, the casualty from mishaps will definitely come down,” said the DCP, Traffic, Mr Shyam Sunder.

According to recent data of Hyderabad police, pedestrians casualties on city roads have increased. The data states that vehicles hit at least three pedestrians every day in the city.

The number of deaths of pedestrians is three times higher than the fatalities among any category of vehicle users. As many as 71 pedestrians were killed in the first five months of this year under the limits of Hyderabad Commissionerate.