While the police failed to provide any statistics regarding accidents on this road, they admitted that at least six points on the road have been identified as “highly accident-prone”. Here, monitoring and implementation of safety measures fall far short of the requirements.
Moreover, a defunct traffic policing system, coupled with untrained traffic policemen and often lack of manpower, turn this vital road link into a death trap.
Daily commuters say the deterioration was first noticed when the road was opened to too many bus routes. Moreover, the trucks, which are not allowed on this road, often use the stretch by bribing the traffic policemen on duty. And the final blow was dealt when the road was thrown open to auto rickshaws.
North 24 Parganas SP Supritim Sarkar, under whose jurisdiction this road falls, said: “We are trying to develop the traffic system on VIP Road. We have asked for more manpower and vehicles, but that will take time. It is true that the existing system has certain inadequacies.” Tapas Chatterjee, the chairman of the Rajarhat-Gopalpur Municipality said: “As vehicular pressure on the road was very high, there was a delay in executing a proposed flyover on the road. It will be started soon.”
As The Indian Express team travelled on the VIP Road, it identified certain hazards. They are:
* There are six major crossings — Goaghata, Lake Town, Baguiati, Kestopur, Kaikhali and airport. Though each crossing is supposed to be manned by two traffic constables, mostly they remain unmanned. At times, only one person can be seen on duty. The homeguards or constables posted on these busy intersections evidently have no training in traffic management. Moreover, there is virtually no mechanism to intercept vehicles violating rules. Two sergeants are also said to be manning the stretch but they are hardly ever visible.
* The lack of trained manpower makes it impossible to track errant vehicles, especially private buses and autos which engage in frequent road rages. Recently, two bus bays were erected at Lake Town crossing and Baguiati, but they are being used for parking auto rickshaws.
* Three years ago, a few of the crossings including Kestopur, Baguihati and Lake Town were declared as “accident-prone”. The administration drew up ambitious plans for construction of a flyover and service road covering Kestopur and Baguiati crossings. Till date, the plan remains on paper only.
* Previously, auto rickshaws were banned from plying on the VIP Road, but due to pressure from CITU, four routes for auto rickshaws were opened on the busy road. Moreover, illegal autos add to the chaos. For instance, about 25 autos have the sanction to ply on the Baguiati-Ultadanga stretch, but nearly 80 ply on the route regularly.
* Initially, railings were erected bordering the Lower Baghjola canal near Ketospur crossing, where a bus accident claimed at least 21 lives on Friday. But for the past couple of years, the railings have disappeared and the authorities have not bothered to replace them. Since there is no barrier, vehicles losing control will fall straight into the canal.
* Two years ago, footbridges were proposed in Baguiati and Kestopur crossings, but the proposal is yet to see the light of the day. According to sources, the Rajarhat-Gopalpur municipality planned to erect the footbridges with private help. But a difference of opinion regarding the spot of the bridges stalled the plan.