Good motoring
Chandigarh roads accident prone
H.Kishie Singh

Pedestrians account for the largest number of fatalities on Indian roads. Little wonder. There are no facilities for a pedestrian to cross a road, and where there are facilities like a zebra-crossing, it is situated by design to kill.

Accidents are on the rise. Reason: the population is nearly 11 lakh in Chandigarh and the number of cars on Chandigarh roads nearly seven lakh. In addition over one lakh vehicles enter Chandigarh every day from neighbouring Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

It is very clear that we have no one who is an expert on traffic management or road design vis-`E0-vis flow of traffic and control of pedestrians. Otherwise, how can a national highway, N.H.21, pass through the heart of Chandigarh? Why should a person from Delhi going to Manali on a holiday have to spend 45 minutes to an hour on Chandigarh roads, simply in transit? It wastes his time, clutters up Chandigarh roads, wastes our time also. An example of thoughtless design.

Himalaya Marg, the stretch from Dakshin Marg going to Mohali, is one of the busiest roads in the city and is quite unfriendly to pedestrians. The length from the lights to the next roundabout is about 650 metres. Cars travels at about 65 kmph. This is the fastest they will travel. This is where the pedestrian crossing is situated. A pedestrian getting hit at 65 kmph will break every bone and possibly die.

While approaching the roundabout the motorist is obliged to slow down to negotiate the round about to 20 kmph. At this speed the pedestrian may escape with a few broken bones but he will survive the impact. This is where the zebra crossing should be. At the Dakshin Marg-Himalaya Marg crossing there are lights. There should be ‘walk/don’t walk’ signs to help the pedestrian. A driver will expect a pedestrian at a corner rather than the middle of a high speed road. The Engineering Department does not know this.

Another classic example of bad design is Madhya Marg. The stretch from Matka Chowk to Press Chowk now has traffic lights. The stretch is also about 700 metres long. Again, the pedestrian crossing is mid-way and the legal speed is 65 kmph. Not content with this, the pedestrians have made a dozen crossings of their own. It is an obstacle race. The pedestrians have to cross three lanes and dodge fast-moving traffic. They then climb over barbed wire, brush aside the thorny bougainvillea bushes and rush across three more lanes. How’s that for design? This road, and most other roads, are pedestrian-unfriendly. Bureaucrats, V.I.P.s, ministers, by the Ambassador-full, have driven down this road over the years and not one person has noticed this serious flaw. No one knows about an under pass or overbridge. That is the need of the moment.

Another reason for the increasing number of fatal accidents on roads is the legal speed. On Chandigarh main roads the car speed is fixed at 65 kmph. This is too fast for today’s quantum of traffic. Incidentally, 75 kmph is considered a highway speed. The Delhi High Court has had to step in and limit the speed for light vehicles to 45-50 kmph and heavy vehicles 35-40 kmph in the Capital. The same is required in Chandigarh.

It is time to redesign our roads with professional help before more lives are wasted due to apathy and incompetence.

Happy motoring!

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