Visakhapatnam: Irregular parking leads to mishaps

Visakhapatnam: Having no dedicated truck terminals, many of the lorries passing through the city are being parked beside the road on NH-16, particularly during night time for various reasons. This irregular parking, people said, was leading to accidents and fatal injuries.

The residents of Tagarapuvalasa and Gajuwaka complained about the same to the civic and traffic authorities several times, but to no avail.

“Every night, the truck drivers stop their vehicles near Fresh Choice in Modhavalasa to have tea and other refreshments. As there are no street lights here, chances of accidents are high,” said Bangaru Raju, a resident of Dakamarri.  

Concerned over the irregular parking of trucks beside the road opposite Timpany School in Gajuwaka, the residents of this area complained about it to the municipal office.

V. Prema Latha, a resident of Vinayaka Nagar, said: “The GVMC has sent a message to us in a couple of days after we lodged the complaint, that it was resolved. However, the vehicles are still being parked here only.”

“As the municipality failed to take action on the truck drivers, we have complained to Peda Gantyada traffic police officials. There was no response from them as well. Recently, a bike hit a stationary lorry at a curve,” she added.

Many such incidents occurred on NH-16 near Nakkapalli, Lankelapalem, Vellanki, Sangivalasa and Tagarapuvalasa. A majority of the accidents occur between Anakapalle and Bhogapuram on NH-16. The district traffic department booked 53 road accident cases on NH-16 up to March 31 this year.  

The vehicles were parked even at the narrow internal roads, where traffic often gets blocked due to congestion. However, the traffic department and highway authorities have neglected this issue.