The National Highway (NH)-49 and a State Highway have proved fatal for commuters in Jharsuguda district. As many as 74 people have been killed between January and July this year in various accidents reported on the two highways.
Most of the victims were found to be motorcyclists. An analysis of the road accidents in the district reported about 190 cases in 2020, out of which 127 victims were injured while 90 were killed. However, in 2021, 147 accidents took place in the district in which 141 victims were injured, and 74 lost their lives. While the number of accidents is rising considerably, steps taken to curb the same have not yielded any results. Six spots on the State highway passing through the district have been identified as black spots or accident-prone.
These places include the entry point of the district from Kheruwal barrage to Badmalon Biju Expressway, Prasanna Panda Chowk, Jharsuguda Bus Stand Chowk, No.9 Dhaba Chowk near Gandhi Chowk, Belpahar Shani Mandir Chowk and Kuraimal Chowk under Rengali PS. The Public Works Department has taken various measures to contain the frequency of such accidents, such as putting signboards between Kheruwal bridge and Badmal and showing more distinct road markings. Likewise, a proposal for constructing a flyover at Prasanna Panda Chowk as a permanent solution for accidents, including rumblers and visible signboards, is under consideration of the Works department.
Sixty speed-control signages and100 'No Parking' boards have been installed from Prasanna Panda Chowk to Belpahar and Talpatia to Kheruwal Bridge.
Further, steps have been taken to clear encroachments on the roadside.The NHAI officials have informed that the authority has installed blackspot signboards, thermoplastic boards, rumblers stripes, and thermoplastic road markings. Adequate lighting arrangements have been made in connecting point of the approach road at Shani Temple. Despite all these precautions, the number of accidents is rapidly rising on NH 49 between Jharsuguda and Kanaktora, causing loss of precious human lives, mostly from working class backgrounds.
Lack of proper knowledge and competency is considered to be some major issues pertaining to road mishaps in the industrial town of Jharsuguda.