The Traffic Department has sent a proposal for building five flyovers in the city to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Stating that the volume of traffic has become unmanageable at various spots in the city, the Traffic Department has expressed the need for construction of flyovers at Kushalpur Chowk, Bhatagaon Chowk, New Rajendra Nagar Turning, Near Khanij bhawan and one near Telibandha Police Station.
“When the number of commuters increase on a road, higher number of police constables are required to man the traffic. When the number of vehicles becomes larger, a traffic signal is put in place but when even that arrangement fails to handle the traffic a flyover must be constructed at the spot,” said Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Balram Hirwani.
It may be noted that a total of 394 people had lost their lives in road accidents last year in Raipur district. Chief Minister Raman Singh had also expressed concern on the rising number of deaths in road accidents. If the proposal sent by the Traffic Department is accepted by the NHAI, accidents on the routes could come down drastically. On December 30, 2013, a school girl was crushed under a heavy vehicle on the National Highway 53. The incident caused a lot of anger in people and raised the question of safety of commuters.
The traffic has increased manifolds after the road was four-laned from Tatibandh Chowk to Telibandha Chowk. A dense population resides alongside the road . “Although under bridges and flyovers have been constructed at Raipura Chowk, Santoshi Nagar Chowk, Pachpedi Naka Chowk and Tagore Nagar turning, construction of flyovers at five more spots is necessary for smoother movement of traffic and curbing road accidents,” Hirwani said. The proposal has been reviewed by the Police IG, GP Singh and is awaiting a nod from the NHAI authorities.