Visakhapatnam: Madhurawada has become the main `road accident zone' in Port City, it seems.
Several road mishaps and deaths have occurred on the main 4-km long highway passing through residential areas in the suburb.
An average of 35-40 road accidents are reported every year on the stretch which connects the Cricket stadium to Kommadi. The accident rate is higher than other junctions within the city limits.
As many as 10 people have been killed on the road in the last 30 days, including a circle inspector, engineering students and software engineers.
The fastest-growing real estate market, lack of progress on the proposed flyover project and unscientific traffic management have resulted in the death of motorists and pedestrians in the zone, 10 km from Core City towards Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.
Retired Under-Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Chesetty Govinda Rao, Executive Member, Madhurawada Chapter, Visakhapatnam Apartments Residents’ Welfare Association (VARWA), said, “There has been no response from authorities including GVMC for our woes on the highway road, traffic problems etc. We brought all these to the notice of the urban bodies six months ago.”
CREDAI Visakhapatnam Chairman B. Srinivasa Rao said the VMRDA had proposed two roads (80 feet and 100 feet) on either side of the existing highway stretch, but no progress could be made. He said that with establishment of parallel roads, traffic on the highway could be controlled to some extent.
The population of the area, which was less than 30000 a decade ago, has now grown to almost 3 lakhs. Almost all the roads were built to meet the requirements, as planned a decade ago. Though GVMC has proposed a flyover on the highway, the project still remains in conceptual stage.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, PM Palam Traffic Circle Inspector T. Vijay Kumar said, “During the road safety committee meetings, we asked for construction of foot overbridges on the highway at key junctions like Chandrampalam School and Car-shed. We are waiting for the response of the concerned departments. The highway stretch needs foot over bridges for pedestrians, to control traffic. Existing narrow subway roads do not reduce traffic congestion, especially between 5 and 7 p.m.”
Why Accident Zone?
Population has increased to more than 3 lakh
35-40 road accidents are reported every year
10 deaths were reported in the last 30 days
No progress of flyover and parallel roads by GVMC and VMRDA
Narrow sub-way roads
No foot-over bridges on the 4-km long highway stretch
40000 vehicles pass on the road during peak time
Apartments are on rise in the area
