Patiala-Rajpura highway sans signboards, lives of students in danger

The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PHRC) has asked the Patiala Deputy Commissioner and Project Director (PIU Chandigarh), NHAI, to look into the concerns raised by residents of the villages situated around Patiala Bypass in Rajpura.

The residents told the PHRC that no speed-breakers or signboards were installed near four schools on the highway, posing significant risk to the life of students and other commuters, especially pedestrians.

The issue surfaced when the PHRC was hearing a case pertaining to a news report published in The Tribune on July 16, “Maths not a problem, crossing highway hard to handle for Rajpura School-goers”, which highlighted that the busy four-lane Patiala-Rajpura highway (NH-64) posed threat to the lives of students of the Government High School, Kheri Gandhain.

The commission, led by Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash, had taken a suo motu cognisance of the news report and asked the NHAI Project Director of Patiala, and the Deputy Commissioner to submit their reports in this regard.

In the details of the order, it was stated that on August 8, the Deputy Commissioner had written a letter to the NHAI Project Manager of Panchkula (having jurisdiction over Punjab) to file a report in the present case before the commission, but no report had been received so far. The next date of hearing is on December 19.

On September 2, the NHAI (PIU Chandigarh) had filed a report before the PHRC stating therein that the NHAI had provided road crossing facility on the alternate path for crossing of road/highway in order to ensure the safety of students. The NHAI had also installed necessary signboards in the said location, displaying/showing 'school ahead' on the road/highway. Speed instruction boards were also installed on the NH-64, near the Government High School.

Meanwhile, Harman Singh Sandhu, founder of Chandigarh-based road safety NGO Arrive Safe, said, “Installing mere rumble strips and signboards displaying school ahead on the highway, where vehicles are travelling at a speed of 80 to 100 kmph, is just an eye wash.  The pedestrian overpass is a necessity and not a luxury. The road crossing facility is located at a distance and is not near the school.”

“It is pointless that a student needs to walk back and forth just to reach the other side of the highway. We urge the NHAI authorities to be considerate towards the issue,” he added.