Black spots on BRTS route make stretch prone to fatal accidents

Charanjit Singh Teja

Amritsar, July 27

Faulty designs and delay in implementation of highway projects are leading to accidents at BRTS lane and bypass road in the city. On Friday, when a truck driver was killed on bypass road at Vallah, some car occupants had a narrow escape as the vehicle rammed into the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) grills near the Gwaal Mandi Chowk. The Gwaal Mandi Chowk was identified as a black spot by traffic experts on the BRTS lane six years ago but the authorities did not care to rectify it.

Road accidents in the BRTS lane have become a routine affair. Earlier, there was a check on the entry of other vehicles in the BRTS corridor. But for the last one year, when the BRTS bus service was discontinued, restrictions on the entry of other vehicles on the BRTS route have been removed. This led to confusion among the commuters about the use of corridor.

A committee, constituted by the state government, had identified nine black spots on the 31-km long BRTS corridor in August 2019. The black spots were identified at Bhandari Bridge, BRTS station outside the railway station, Gawal Mandi Chowk, Putligarh Chowk, Civil Hospital, Ramtalai Chowk, Husainpura Chowk, Mall Mandi Chowk and outside Alpha Mall. Traffic load at Bhandari Bridge has eased after the construction of another railway bridge but others remain black spots.

Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been constructing over-bridges at Vallah and Ranjit Avenue. The delay in completion of project is causing accidents. Following routine jams at construction sites, the commuters adopt wrong side to reach their destination. A head-on collision of trucks was reported on Friday in which a truck driver died. The residents of Vallah claimed that the timely completion of project can avert accidents.

“The bridge is being constructed on the main bypass road and NHAI diverted the traffic on to side lanes. The lanes are badly damaged due to heavy traffic and it causes traffic jams. The commuters often take wrong side to reach their destination and meet with accidents,” said Manjit Singh, a resident of Vallah.

The Identified black spots

A committee, constituted by the state government, had identified nine black spots on the 31-km long BRTS corridor in August 2019. The black spots were identified at Bhandari Bridge, BRTS station outside the railway station, Gawal Mandi Chowk, Putligarh Chowk, Civil Hospital, Ramtalai Chowk, Husainpura Chowk, Mall Mandi Chowk and outside Alpha Mall. Traffic load at Bhandari Bridge has eased after the construction of another railway bridge but others remain black spots