Narrow roads of Palampur death trap for pedestrians

Narrow roads of Palampur have become hazardous for pedestrians, turning daily commute into a nightmare. The rising number of accidents, involving speeding bikers and light vehicles, has become a grave concern for the local administration and police.

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Over the past three months, more than 15 pedestrians have been injured by speeding bikers in different parts of the town, with areas like Ghuggar, Cinema Road, and Court Road being particularly dangerous. Subhash Chowk recently witnessed a tragic incident where an elderly man was hit by a biker, resulting in multiple fractures. Similarly, near the Major Sudheer Walia statue, six accidents were reported in the last month alone. Despite these alarming statistics, the administration has made no efforts to install traffic lights or implement safety measures at critical points.

Palampur’s narrow roads, unchanged for three decades, have become “killer roads” for pedestrians. The increasing vehicular traffic, coupled with idle parking on both sides of the roads, exacerbates the problem, leading to daily accidents. Although vehicle numbers in the state grow by 9% annually, with 1.4 lakh new registrations and an influx of 20,000 tourist vehicles during peak seasons, infrastructure improvements have lagged far behind.

Kangra district leads in pedestrian fatalities caused by overspeeding, rash and negligent driving, and drunk driving, followed by Una and Baddi. The lack of proper road widening and traffic management has further worsened the situation.

Palampur SHO Bhupinder Singh said over a dozen traffic constables have been deployed across the town to manage traffic. However, he emphasised that the police alone cannot solve the problem. Parents must cooperate by discouraging youngsters from indulging in rash and negligent driving.

The administration’s inaction and poor planning have left pedestrians at the mercy of reckless drivers. Immediate measures, such as widening roads, installing traffic lights, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws, are urgently needed to prevent further loss of life.