Residents worried over road infra ahead of foggy season

With the winter season beginning and foggy mornings just days away, city residents are becoming concerned about the condition of local roads. Many major routes as well as smaller roads on the city outskirts are not properly marked, making it difficult for commuters to travel safely in low visibility conditions. With temperatures dropping each day, experts say the city may soon face dense fog, but road infrastructure remains far from ready.

A quick visit to several busy stretches shows that white lane markings have faded or disappeared completely. On many roads, the divider lines are barely visible, especially at night. Drivers say that without these markings, maintaining proper lanes becomes difficult and dangerous. The problem becomes even worse when visibility drops due to fog or smog, which is quite common during winter months.

Traffic safety signs are also missing in several areas. On some roads, signboards warning about sharp turns, speed limits, school zones or accident-prone spots are either damaged, hidden behind overgrown trees or simply not installed. Commuters say this lack of signage increases the chances of accidents, particularly during early morning and late evening hours when fog is thickest.

Auto and taxi drivers, who spend long hours on the road, say they face the highest risk. Many of them shared that fog becomes so dense during peak winter that they sometimes cannot see even a few metres ahead. In such conditions, clear lane markings and reflective signage are essential for guiding vehicles. "Every year, we are left to manage on our own. The roads remain the same-broken markings, no reflectors, nothing," said a local auto -rickshaw driver.

Road safety experts warn that ignoring these issues could lead to an increase in mishaps. They say that repainting road markings, installing reflective strips and fixing signboards are simple, low-cost steps that can save lives. Cities with heavy winter fog usually ensure that their main roads are well-marked and equipped with reflectors, but similar preparations are missing here. With winter setting in quickly, residents are hoping that the administration will speed up the work.