Delayed GG flyover sparks safety concerns with 32 accidents in past 10 months

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Delayed GG flyover sparks safety concerns with 32 accidents in past 10 months

Sunday, 29 December 2024 | Staff Reporter | BHOPAL

The construction of the GG flyover, which connects Gayatri Mandir to Ganesh Mandir, has faced delays of over two years, creating significant traffic and safety concerns. The ongoing metro and flyover construction have resulted in the formation of ten accidental zones in the area, including four major hotspots. Over the past ten months, 32 accidents have been reported in these zones, leading to 22 injuries and one fatality.

Traffic police have raised several objections to the flyover’s current state, preventing the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for its opening. Among the issues highlighted are the lack of dividers, unresolved road closures, the absence of speed breakers, and the need for road widening at key points. Officials have emphasized that addressing these problems is essential to ensure the safe operation of the flyover.

One of the significant concerns is at Ganesh Mandir Chauraha, where a junction has formed between the Veer Savarkar Bridge and the flyover. A divider is needed to manage traffic flow and reduce accidents. Additionally, the connection between the Ganesh Mandir service road and the main road has created another hazardous zone that needs to be closed to mitigate risks.

The turning near Narmada Hospital poses a particular challenge, with vehicles converging from multiple directions, leading to congestion and accidents. This location has already witnessed 12 accidents due to poor road design and the absence of proper traffic management.

In front of DB Mall Square, a pillar located near MP Nagar police station has caused 15 accidents in the past year. Officials have proposed increasing the rotary’s size from nine meters to 18 meters to improve traffic circulation and reduce collisions. Similarly, the Vallabh Bhawan Rotary has become a problematic spot due to the combination of a rotary and signal, prompting a recommendation for a permanent rotary to ease traffic flow.

Safety measures such as speed breakers and speed limits on the descending sections of the flyover are also absent, increasing the risk of high-speed accidents. Moreover, officials have stressed the need to widen the roads on both sides of the flyover by five feet each to accommodate the increasing traffic volume.

Accidental zones have been reported in various areas, including Habibganj, Ganesh Mandir, Fracture Hospital, and RKMP station. These zones have seen 11 accidents in the past ten months, resulting in eight injuries. In MP Nagar and locations near DB Mall, Gayatri Mandir, Board Office Square, and Pragati Petrol Pump, 21 accidents have occurred, leaving 14 injured and one dead. Many minor accidents in these zones remain unreported, further underscoring the urgency for remedial measures.

PWD officials acknowledge the issues and emphasize the need for collaboration with other agencies to prepare a comprehensive traffic management plan for the flyover. KPS Rana, ENC of PWD, stated that new tenders would be issued to address the problems, and work would begin after consultation with all stakeholders. Sanjay Kumar Singh, DCP Traffic, reiterated that it is not feasible to open the flyover for traffic until all obstacles are removed.

Ajay Bajpai, ACP Traffic, confirmed that the PWD has been informed about the formation of four major accidental zones under the metro and flyover between Gayatri Mandir and Ganesh Mandir. He noted that these objections must be addressed before traffic can be allowed on the route.