By Dr. B.R. Sainath Iyer

Hunsur Road in Mysuru is acutely curved for about 400-850 meters near Kalamandira to Jaladarshini Guest House and it has been like that for years. Accidents have been occurring on that stretch for years. Suddenly these facts have become eyesore and unacceptable for no known reason and lines are drawn for confrontation between the Government and the NGOs. It is necessary to see all 360 degrees of the issue.

It seems that the Govt. has consulted a private agency and on the basis of its report, the Engineer says ‘only solution is to straighten the road.’ And so, a project costing Rs.12 crore will be taken up to broaden the stretch of road, which will also straighten it and this will, it is believed,  prevent accidents and loss of life occurring at the stretch.

In the meantime, NGOs protested against this project for various reasons and from the discussions, two points emerge, which are worthy of consideration as cause for accidents: 1) Acute curvature on the stretch and 2) Irresponsible transport system.

If curvature is the only cause of accidents, do all the curved roads in Mysuru, (there are many, one of 90 degree curvature in Outer Ring Road (ORR) near Seshadripuram College is mentioned by ACP), face accidents? Yes. In this stretch in ORR two accidents occur every week. Do they all have ‘banking’? If so, are we going to straighten all the roads? If not, what is the pressing reason for so urgently putting effect to the straightening project spending Rs.12 crore for 850 meters only on Hunsur Road? Government may have a valid reason. The people only want to know for transparency.

A senior Traffic Police Officer had commented that almost all accidents at the spot occur only between 12 midnight and dawn. The curvature in the road exist all 24 hours. If it is the sole cause of accidents, why they do not occur any other time of the day?

May be the curvature has no role in the cause of accidents or it is only a contributory factor. So, obviously there must be other more important causes for the accidents. Under these circumstances should we not undertake a thorough investigation for all the causes before jumping to a project at Rs.12 crore to rectify imaginary contributory cause only? The statement of current engineer that the only solution for preventing accidents is straightening the road looks a bit clumsy.

Needs transparency

The protesting activists had pointed out that our transport system with all its components is grossly faulty. If other cause for accidents exists, what are they?

Irresponsible driving: Driving without a licence, licence obtained from ‘Agents’ without taking driving tests. Drunken driving, coolly ambling through red light or rushing through orange in front of smiling Police at traffic lights.

Traffic violation: Performing stunts on the road, not following lane rules and driving for prolonged hours without rest leading to ‘micro sleep’ and accidents. Effect of medication like cough and cold remedies which cause drowsiness.

Carrying more than two persons on two-wheelers, driving while talking on mobile or with earphones on.  Partying in a car, romance and sex in car on move, one can go on.

We cannot blame anyone. All of us including parents, youth and Police authorities are responsible. We commit these crimes or connive to be silent on them. There is a need for a strict sensible paradigm shift to occur. Education on wheels has to be taken up on a war-footing. Curvature in our crooked attitudes have to be straightened and not just the Hunsur Curvature.

In the second most populated country of the world with 125 crores of people to be served, Police or any official cannot be present to act immediately in all places. We people have to take major responsibility for our own security. Authorities only can give supportive hand.

What should be done?

A thorough retrospective study should be undertaken for all accidents that occurred at the point in question and also other places in Mysuru for comparison in the past to find the why, what, how and where of the accidents. The results should form the basis for suitable action. A prospective study will not be ethical                               to undertake.

Well-painted speed breakers, medians, barricades and road limits should be put in place immediately. Speed Limit boards should be more clear and prominent. May be the speed limit for the time being can be further reduced to 30 km for the patch.

Knowing our irresponsible drivers, these measures alone will not work. We must have a Traffic Police Patrol Car on duty at the spot all 24 hours or at least for the six-hour period after midnight to deter or to immediately book the offenders. This will also help the unfortunate victims of accidents to get immediate legal and ambulance services in deserted roads at that time of the night.

It would be a bit expensive but more effective to install CCTV cameras at the spot and directly connect them to the nearest Police Station for 24 hour monitoring and immediate action.

It is said that the project is likely to go on till January. It may be prolonged as Government projects usually do and be affected by weather vagaries.

The People of Mysuru have complete faith in their elected and selected officers that whatever they do will be for the benefit, only for the benefit of the Mysureans. We will accept whatever is decided by our officials.

We only seek transparency and accountability.