Patiala-Rajpura highway sans signboards, road users in danger

The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PHRC) has asked Patiala Deputy Commissioner and Director, Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Chandigarh, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to look into concerns raised by residents of villages situated along the Patiala bypass in Rajpura.

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Rumble strips an eyewash

Installing mere rumble strips and signboards displaying school ahead on the highway, where vehicles are plying at a speed of 80 to 100 kmph, is just an eye wash. The pedestrian overpass is a necessity and not a luxury.  — Harman Singh Sandhu, Arrive Safe founder

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

The issues 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 and the Deputy Commissioner to submit their reports in this regard. In details of the order, it was stated that on August 8, the Deputy Commissioner had written to the NHAI Project Manager, Panchkula, who had jurisdiction over Punjab, to file a report in the present case before the commission. But no report had been received by the commission so far. The next date of hearing on the matter has been fixed on December 19.

On September 2, the NHAI, PIU, Chandigarh, had filed a report before the PHRC which stated: “To ensure the safety of students, the NHAI has provided an alternate road for crossing the highway. The NHAI has also installed necessary signboards on the said location, displaying "school ahead" on the road/highway. Speed limit signboards have also been installed near the Government High School on the NH-64.”

Harman Singh Sandhu, founder of Arrive Safe, a Chandigarh-based road safety NGO, said, “Installing mere rumble strips and signboards displaying school ahead on the highway, where vehicles are plying 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’s 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 said.