Negligence on National Highway-44 Puts Safety at Risk: Stone Barricades Return, Raising Concerns of Fatal Accidents
Media Report, Sonipat-

 

The issue of negligence under the guise of safety on National Highway-44 seems to be never-ending. Stone barricades, which were removed earlier under the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner, have once again been placed in the middle of the road. These barricades could pose a deadly risk for high-speed vehicles.

Local residents and drivers claim that these barricades could lead to accidents. With these stones suddenly appearing in front of vehicles, they pose a serious danger to drivers' lives.

Placing stones in the middle of a busy road directly undermines traffic safety. If they are not removed immediately, accidents can happen at any time. Over 80,000 vehicles pass through this stretch every day, increasing the risk even further.

In a meeting of the District Road Safety Committee, Deputy Commissioner Sushil Sarwan had given clear instructions to remove the cement barricades and replace them with safer alternatives. After his ultimatum, the NHAI replaced the cement barricades with plastic ones. However, stone barricades have now been placed again near Bahalgarh.

900 Crores Spent on Construction, but Situation Still Dismal

The 24 km-long NH-44 and its connecting roads from Kundli to Panipat were widened at a cost of ?900 crore. This highway, inaugurated on June 20, 2023, directly connects Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Despite this, many sections of the road have developed cracks after the rains. The NHAI is filling the potholes with rubble, but locals argue that repeatedly patching up the highway after spending crores of rupees is not a permanent solution. Even though the toll taxes generate millions of rupees daily, passengers are still forced to travel in discomfort, risking their lives.