Bhubaneswar: State govt has decided to conduct a road safety audit of the Janpath-Cuttack Road flyover via a shopping mall in Kharavel Nagar, a prominent city stretch that witnesses frequent accidents due to inadequate safety measures. Transport secretary Usha Padhee has directed the chief engineer (roads-1) to prioritise improvements in pedestrian infrastructure along this vulnerable corridor.
"This busy stretch houses several govt offices, places of worship, and commercial complexes, resulting in heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The office and residential complex of the Odisha Association for the Blind is also located here, making it a critical route for persons with disabilities — particularly the visually impaired — who remain among the most vulnerable road users," she said.
Absence of continuous footpaths, safe crossing facilities and other essential pedestrian amenities exposes commuters to constant risk. The heavy mix of traffic further compounds the danger.
In her directive, Padhee emphasised, "You are requested to immediately conduct a comprehensive road safety audit of the entire stretch, strictly in accordance with Indian Road Congress guidelines and established road safety audit protocols."
She said the audit must assess the need for additional pedestrian infrastructure, including obstruction-free footpaths with tactile paving for the visually impaired, safe grade-separated or at-grade crossings, proper signage, road markings, adequate illumination, and traffic-calming measures to reduce vehicle speeds.
Pending completion of the audit and permanent upgrades, Padhee instructed the installation of temporary safety measures without delay. These include cautionary and speed restriction signage, temporary pedestrian crossings with clear markings, lane discipline enforcement tools, and enhanced night-time lighting to immediately mitigate risks, especially for differently-abled pedestrians.
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Debabrata Mohapatra is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India,...
Read MoreDebabrata Mohapatra is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Bhubaneswar. He had been writing for TOI from Puri since 2006 before joining the Bhubaneswar bureau in August 2010. He covers crime, law & order and Congress.
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