58 accidents in first 6 months of 2017 on Tirumala Tirupati ghat road

TIRUPATI: As many as 58 accidents occurred on the Tirumala-Tirupati ghat road in the first half of 2017. According to the records, 48 four-wheelers and 10 two-wheelers met with accidents this year. Over 106 accidents were recorded in 2016. Many accidents occurred due to inexperienced driving and  overspeeding on the  ghat road.

Some of the local jeeps are unfit to carry passengers while a few others are found overloading the passengers. The TTD has implemented several rules to avert accidents on the ghat road but to no avail. There are more jeeps seen transporting pilgrims on the Tirupati-Tirumala route. The TTD has imposed life ban on the jeeps  meeting with accident at least once.

Accordingly, around 25-30 jeeps have been permanently  banned from entering the ghat road in the last couple of years. Private vehicles also should follow the rules as there are several security steps and penalties being implemented by the TTD. To reach to Tirumala from Tirupati,  the vehicle should travel for 28 minutes but to come down to Tirupati from  Tirumala, it takes 40 minutes.

Reaching at least one minute early will result in a ban of the vehicle for the next three days and Rs 300 gift amount should be paid to Lord Balaji during the respective driver’s next visit to Tirumala. On an average, 350-400  vehicles are reaching the destination earlier than the given time. New chief vigilance and security officer Ake Ravi krishna has introduced implementation of licence check for the drivers along with making helmet compulsory for the motorists riding two-wheelers.