Dropping of Hunsur Road straightening a right decision

Sir,

This is with reference to the news item “Hunsur Road Straightening is Shelved” in SOM dated Feb.24. I wholeheartedly welcome the decision.

Earlier, the Government of Karnataka had initiated a project on straightening of Hunsur Road near Jaladarshini Guest House for which Rs. 12 crore had been sanctioned by the Central Government. In the first place, is it worth spending crores of rupees on this project? The project is undertaken only with the sole objective of averting accidents on this stretch, that too near Jaladarshini Guest House where there is a road bend.

Even if the road is straightened, is there any guarantee that accidents are prevented? No. For example, even on the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway where the road is straight, accidents occur quite frequently. So I don’t think accidents can be averted just by straightening the road. Accidents happen due to reckless driving, crossing the speed limit (speed limit is 40 km/hour in this junction), and failing to see the sharp curve ahead of the road.

Traffic Police have already taken precautionary measures by installing speed-breakers at this junction. Of course, they can take more rigorous measures by installing reflective sign boards displaying “sharp curve ahead” with radium lights. They can also station a speed interceptor at this junction to penalise the violators.

Hence, straightening the road will not help in any way. In fact, it will spoil the beauty of the heritage road. This apart, it will disturb the balance of eco-system and the ambience of the place. It is good that the project has been dropped and only a portion of the stretch is being widened.

– Arunkumar, Chamarajapuram, 6.3.2018