More than 25 accident zones along NH 66

Team Udayavani, Sep 16, 2019, 1:18 PM IST

Of the three national highways passing through DK district, NH 66 and NH 75 are the prominent ones. Although they have been upgraded into four-lane roads, vehicular accidents haven’t decreased. Most of the accidents occurring are due to the dilapidated state of the roads. There are more than 25 accident zones along NH 66 located from Talapady to Hejmady and this clearly depicts the dangerous state of the road.

Udayavani reality report-Mangaluru team

Mangaluru: A few junctions and bends along the national highways passing through DK district are identified as accident zones itself. Although NH 66 and NH 75 have been upgraded into four-lane road, accidents have not yet reduced. Although the common reasons for the accidents include rash and negligent driving and technical failure of vehicles, most of the accidents occurring now-a-days is mostly due to the horrible state of the roads.

NH 66

There are more than 25 accident zones along the 46 km stretch of NH 66 from Talapady to Hejmady. The prominent accident zones are K C Road junction (Talapady), Ucchila, Kotekar Beeri, Adka, Kolia, Kumpala, Thokkottu, Kallapu, Adankudru, Jeppinamogaru, Pumpwell junction, Nanthoor junction, KPT junction, near A J Hospital, Daddalakadu cross, Kodikal cross, Kudremukha junction, Panambur beach cross, Baikampady Jokatte cross, Baikampady, Surathkal Junction, NITK, Padupanambur, Kolnadu and Mulki Bappanadu.

Accident Zones

Jeppinamogaru Junction

If one has to proceed towards Thokkottu along NH 66, they have to pass through Jeppinamogaru which is an accident zone, with residential area on the LHS and a road proceeding towards Mangaladevi on the RHS.

Amidst vehicles proceeding from Mangaluru, those vehicles proceeding towards Mangaldevi have to cross the highway by taking a U-turn across the path of the vehicles proceeding from Thokkottu towards Mangaluru. There are no proper caution signage boards installed on either side of the highway regarding this. Hence, when vehicles attempt to barge into the highway from one side to the other, it leads to confusion resulting in repeated accidents.

Beeri Junction
While proceeding south from Thokkottu, one reached Beeri Junction where vehicles pass from all four directions and since there is a major lack of safety measures here, it has been identified as an accident zone. Here, while coming from Thokkottu side, the travelers going towards Maduru, Deralakatte will have to travel by turning to the left. In the same way, the high number of vehicles from Maduru proceeding towards Mangaluru will have to take turn by merging into the highway traffic in one direction and then merge into the highway traffic in the opposite direction. Due to this confusion, several accidents have already occurred. Not limiting to this, although there is a bus stop along the service road here, the buses blatantly break traffic rules and stop at Beeri junction itself, giving invitation to more accidents.

Bend near Perne

When travelling along NH 75 from B C Road to Uppinangady, one passes through Perne. There is a very dangerous bend here which has already witnessed several ghastly accidents. Here, one cannot immediately see vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Besides, the big turn does not even have a caution signage board which is mandatory for highways.

States directed to identify accident prone zones

The union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) which has considered accidents along the highways to be serious, has created guidelines and directed all states to take necessary action. The states have been asked to identify prominent accident prone zones along the national highways and carry out study regarding the causes for the repeated accidents occurring. In this way, a circular has been sent to the chief secretary of the states, NHAI and PWD officials to submit reports on how the number accident zones along the national highways be reduced. MORTH has also created a plan worth Rs 14,000 crore to reduce the number of accident zones.

789 accident prone zones in the country

According to an estimate, there are 789 accident prone zones in the country. As per 2016 information, 86 major accident zones have been identified along the national highways within Karnataka. In this way, Karnataka is on the 3^rd position while Tamil Nadu is numero uno. The cops have identified 21 accident prone zones within Mangaluru Police Commissionerate limits.

In 2017, altogether 50,363 accidents occurred at junctions along the national highways throughout the country in which, 16,939 persons lost their lives while, 15,167 persons were injured grievously. During the same period, 2,839 accidents occurred within Karnataka of which 533 persons turned up dead and 1,443 persons sustained critical injuries.

NH 75

There are more than 10 accident prone zones along NH 75, from Nanthoor to BC Road and the prominent ones include Bikarnakatte, Padil Junction, Valachil, Farangipet, Maripalla, Thumbay and Bhramarakootlu.

NH 169

NH 169 has not yet been upgraded into a four-lane road and the vehicle density along this route is more between Mangaluru – Moodbidri. Besides, accidents too occur along this route.

Bhramarakootlu

Due to a dispute over a small stretch of land, the four-lane NH 75 suddenly turns into a two-lane road near Bhramarakootlu. Since it looks like a one-way road from both the directions on the first glance, it has become an accident prone zone. Besides, the conspicuous lack of any caution signage board regarding the confusion there is also another reason for the accidents. Golitottu located near Uppinangady is also an accident prone zone.

You too can inform of any problem

Udayavani’s aim is to put an end to the rise in the number of accidents occurring along NH 75 and NH 66 which pass through DK district. You can provide your suggestions and opinions regarding these two national highways by Whatsapp with photos to 9964169554