No trauma care units on NH-16 in Visakhapatnam
The proposal on care centres was made a decade ago.
Visakhapatnam: Proposed about a decade ago, trauma care units along NH-16 stretch between Vizag and Srikakulam (about 330 km) are yet to see light of the day.
The absence of trauma care units is leading to a spurt in the number of accident deaths in the region. As NH-16 is the busiest stretch in the region, road accidents have become a common sight on the stretch.
Sources in police said the state government has proposed 3-4 independent trauma care units along NH-16 stretch in north Andhra region in 2006 to provide immediate quality treatment to victims of road crashes on the expressway. However, not a single trauma care unit has been set up even after a decade.
There are two private trauma care units located close to NH-16 in Vizag city and there is an urgent need to set up the trauma care units at strategic locations along the expressway to save the lives of injured.
DGP of Andhra Pradesh, J.V. Ramudu in his presentation to Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu highlighted the need of setting up trauma care centres at JR Puram, Narasannapeta, Icchapuram and Tekkali area in Srikakulam district and a few places like Elamanchili, Aganampudi, Nakkapalle in Vizag district.
The authorities of the NHAI and a few other departments are yet to identify suitable land for setting up the trauma care units. Generally the ministry of health and NHAI will fund the infrastructure and equipment for units and the state government will bear the salaries and cost of its maintenance. However, nothing was done so far, said a senior police officer.
Police identified over 30 black spots on the NH-16 in between Vizag and Srikakulam stretch. but Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) report says AP has only eight black sports on various NHs.