The stretch of NH4 in the cantonment limits starts at the Central Hatcheries Centre, passing via Sarvatra Vihar, Khadki post office, Khadki railway station, up to Bopodi. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had undertaken the work of road concreting a few years ago.
The narrow, four-lane stretch becomes all the more restricted near Khadki rail way station where it runs pa rallel to the station.
Moreover, rail commu ters find it extremely difficult to cross the road due to fast moving vehicles.
Veena Kulkarni, a rail commuter, says, “Vehicles pass by at quite a speed making it diffcult for us to cross the road. We have to stand by the side of the road for nearly two to three minutes before we can quickly sprint across.There is no median on the highway near Khadki railway station.“
All suburban trains, besides a few express trains like Sinhagad, Deccan express, Chennai express and Mahalaxmi express halt at Khadki railway station. Crossing the road at night is a nightmare, commuters point out.
Devdutta Lande, who regularly drives down NH4, sa gularly drives ys the road is extremely unsafe because of unauthorised median punctures. “The punctures make it easier for two-wheelers to cross the road and everytime a scooter or a motorbike slows down to take a turn through the median punctu re, fast-moving four-wheelers are also forced to slow down suddenly to prevent an accident,“ Lande explains.
The situation becomes even worse during the monsoon months. In fact, there . In fact, there have been a co uple of instan ces where cars n the road divi were stuck on the road divider, late at night. Road safety experts say cat eyes are a must for vehicle users to follow lanes in the night.
Not that daylight makes the circumstances any bet ter. This reporter was witness to an accident six months ago wherein a car crossed on to the opposite corridor and hit two vehicles at 2pm near the KCB vehicle entry fee collection centre near Khadki railway station.No one was injured in the accident.
Senior officials of the Khadki traffic division say they have repeatedly sent letters to PMC seeking that the height of the divider be increased, barricades be put up to dissuade people from using unauthorised median punctures and ensure that street lights are made functional at the earliest. However, police officers say they are yet to receive a response.
Electrical department chief of the PMC Shriniwas Kandul was unaware that the street lights on the highway stretch were not functional since the past six months.
“I will ask the engineers concerned and ensure that the street lights are made functional at the earliest,“ Kandul said.
Source : TOI
