Karnataka: Damaged barricades render roads in twin cities unsafe

HUBBALLI: There are several places spread across the twin cities wherein iron barricades placed on medians are damaged, many of which have been in that condition for years but the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation’s (HDMC) apathetic attitude continues to put the lives of motorists and pedestrians in jeopardy.

One spots many pedestrians, trying too hard to save a few minutes, trying to leap over the

damaged barricades

and end up getting injured. In addition to the obvious threat that these damaged barricades pose to the safety of those using the road, their presence on several prominent thoroughfares reflects poorly on the twin cities. The poor condition of these barricades has raised questions among residents about the civic agency’s efficiency, not to mention their attitude towards exchequers’ money, used to erect them.

One can spot these corroded and damaged barricades at, among other places, the Old Bus Stand, the Hubballi Railway Station, pointed out Nava Ayodhya Nagar resident Ramesh Sindhagi.

Hosa Oni resident Ramesh Satnur said that both the HDMC and twin cities’ police appeared to be deaf to repeated pleas of the residents for concrete barriers. “HDMC has been blind to the problem for many years now,” Satnur said.

Ramesh Hanchinal, a teacher, expressed his disappointment with the barricades serving no purpose. “In the big cities, the civic agencies have built concrete barriers. In Hubballi-Dharwad, iron grilles are being used in lieu of precast concrete barriers. More importantly, the height of the barriers must be prohibitive, to discourage pedestrians from attempting to leap off of them,” he said.

Anushka Toshikhani, a Hubballi-based engineer, said that motorists, particularly two-wheelers had to be constantly wary of pedestrians jumping over these barricades. “The HDMC must consult engineers and traffic experts to erect pedestrian-friendly barricades that will also help motorists take to the

roads

with one less worry,” she said.

‘Covid stalled the work’
HDMC commissioner Suresh Itnal said that the Covid-induced crisis had stalled work on the construction of barricades on the roads. “Work will commence at the earliest, before the budget for the civic agency is tabled for the upcoming financial year,” Itnal said.