Pune: Accidents On Katraj-Kondhwa Road Raise Alarm Bells Among Locals
Katraj, 6th August 2023: The stagnant widening project of the Katraj-Kondhwa road and its deteriorating condition continue to inflict distress upon citizens. The deplorable state of the road has led to a surge in accidents, with the toll of accidental fatalities showing no signs of abating.
Back in 2018, the then Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated the road expansion initiative. However, since its inception, a total of 55 accidents have been reported on the road within the jurisdictions of Bharti Vidyapeeth and Kondhwa Police Station, spanning a three-and-a-half-kilometer stretch from Katraj Chowk to Khadi Machine chowk. Notably, no minor accidents have been documented during this period.
The road jurisdiction extends from Katraj Chowk to Gokulnagar Chowk under the purview of Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station, while the Kondhwa Police cover the Gokulnagar Chowk to Khadi Machine Chowk stretch.
Over a four-year span, a distressing tally of 23 fatalities and 38 severe injuries has been recorded in accidents reported at both police stations. The escalating number of fatal and debilitating accidents has underscored concerns regarding safety for both pedestrians and motorists.
Presently, the road witnesses a steady flow of 7,000 to 8,000 vehicles per hour, with a significant proportion being heavy vehicles. It is noteworthy that a substantial number of accidents involve these larger vehicles.
Tragedy struck again recently when a collision occurred between a container and a sports bike en route from Katraj to Kondhwa around 11:30 pm on a Saturday night. The young rider lost his life instantaneously as he was pinned under the rear wheel of the container after his vehicle skidded near the Paramount-Eros Society. Prompt response from Bharti Vidyapeeth police station personnel ensued, followed by necessary actions.
Accident Data:
Year – Accidents – Deaths – Injuries
2018 – 11 – 5 – 6
2019- 15 – 4 – 13
2020 – 3 – 1- 2
2021 – 13 – 5 – 10
2022 – 8 – 3 – 5
2023 – 5 – 5 -3
Efforts to address this pressing issue have been likened to a war-like endeavor. A collective effort, involving a comprehensive inspection by officials from various departments, was undertaken last week to identify solutions. Further steps will be taken following an inspection tour led by the Municipal Commissioner next week.
Vikas Dhakane, Additional Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, reiterated the commitment to expedite road completion, stating, “We are diligently working to resolve the challenges and aim to complete the road construction at the earliest.”
As citizens continue to bear the brunt of the hazardous road conditions, the demand for swift and decisive action remains paramount.
