Motorists seek adequate safety measures on new ROB in Ranipet town to prevent accidents

Motorists have demanded adequate safety measures on the recently inaugurated ₹26.65-crore Road Over Bridge (ROB) constructed along the railway line at Navalpur village in Ranipet town to prevent accidents.

This incident comes after three youths were killed on November 20 on the main road of the bridge when the two-wheeler they were traveling in was hit by an SUV that jumped into the wrong lane of the road.

Due to the narrow width of the two-lane bridge, there is no median to ensure lane discipline. “Lack of median on the new bridge encourages rash driving and jumping into the wrong lane, putting other motorists at risk. Flashers and reflectors should be installed to warn motorists of traffic violations,” said driver V. Parasuram.

Textiles and Handloom Minister R. Gandhi, who is also the Ranipet MLA, inaugurated the new bridge in August by touring the new facility along with residents, social activists, elected representatives and State Highways officials.

The new bridge, which was first approved in 2019, is being built jointly by the Southern Railway and the National Highways (NH) wing of the State Highways. The two-lane bridge, funded by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is 921 meters long and 12 meters wide and has at least 50 LED street lights on the bridge and service lanes. Tiled pathways with steel railings are also provided. There are stairs to reach the railway station in Navalpur from the bridge.

Motorists said the new bridge is a lifeline as it provides easy and safe access to schools, colleges, bus stands, government offices and banks located on one side of the railway line while housing colonies are located on the other side.

However, since its opening three months ago, rash driving has become common on the bridge. Barricades should be placed at both ends of the bridge to prevent rash driving.

More importantly, State Highways and traffic police should install reflective orange plastic poles instead of concrete medians to ensure lane discipline. CCTV cameras should be installed to act as a deterrent against traffic violations.

Highways officials said that a detailed study was carried out to take security measures on the bridge and approach distances to the new facility. It became necessary to take such precautions after the fatal accident that occurred on the bridge. “Additional safety measures will be taken on the new bridge after getting approval from Collector JU Chandrakala, who regularly inspects accident-prone spots in the area,” said a Highways official.