No end to stray animal menace on NH-1

Lovleen Binas

Doraha, August 14

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has failed to check the stray animal menace on the NH-1, despite the fact that it extracts a huge sum from commuters in the form of toll tax.

Stray animals appear from nowhere and hence can endanger several lives as well as damage vehicles.

This, despite the fact that the problem has been highlighted a number of times in these columns and brought to the notice of the officials concerned as well.

“The company is making service lanes along the main road so that the local traffic does not obstruct the flow of speedy and long-route vehicles on the National Highway. But what about the obstruction caused by stray animals which may cost us our lives?” asked Pavittar Pal Singh Pangali, a resident of Pangalian village near Doraha.

Jandeep Kaushal, a social worker of Doraha complained: “I have failed to understand as to why are we paying so heavily to the toll authorities when there is practically no facility provided to us? Leave aside maintenance or other emergency services, they have not even been able to control the entry of stray animals. As the public pays blindly and most unthinkably, the authorities have simply no problem in extracting and even increasing the toll any fine day.”

“The other day, I was about to cross the fly over at Doraha, but a buffalo suddenly appeared in front of my car. As I was caught unawares, I applied sudden brakes. On the one hand the authorities show zero tolerance as far as the obstruction of smooth flow of traffic on the National Highway is concerned, on the other there is no control over the stray animals that appear out of nowhere. Commuters, too, are at a good speed on highway and any animal appearing all of a sudden can be destructive for not only the vehicle, but its occupants as well,” said Jogeshwar Singh Mangat of Doraha.

Dr Kamaljit Soi, member, National Road Safety Council, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, said: “The toll road is a restricted access road. It is the duty of the company to ensure that proper fencing is done on the entire toll road stretch so that no stray animal can enter. This is the responsibility of the company which has to assure 24X7 highway patrolling. In case of negligence, a case can be filed against the company concerned.”

Toll Manager at Ladowal Toll Palza Kailash Sharma could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Expertspeak

The toll road is a restricted access road. It is the duty of the company, which has constructed the road, to make sure that proper fencing is done on the entire road, so no animal strays on to the road. This is the responsibility of the company which has to ensure 24X7 highway patrolling. In case of negligence, a case can be filed against the company.—Dr Kamaljit Soi, member, National Road Safety Council

Commuterspeak

The company is making service lanes along the main road, so the local traffic does not obstruct the flow of speedy and long-route vehicles on the National Highway. But what about the obstruction caused by stray animals which may cost us our lives? — Pavittar Pal Singh, resident of pangalian village near doraha

I have failed to understand as to why we are paying so much to the toll authorities when there is practically no facility provided to us? They have not even been able to control the entry of stray animals. As the public pays blindly and most unthinkably, the authorities have no problem in extracting and even increasing the toll any day. —Jandeep Kaushal, a social worker of Doraha