Illegal medians, U-turns raise road accident risk

Bhopal: The city roads are increasingly becoming accident-prone due to illegal median cuts and unauthorised U-turn points created across several areas. Traffic police officials said residents, commercial establishments and motorists have allegedly damaged road dividers at multiple locations for convenience, resulting in frequent traffic disruptions and a higher risk of crashes.According to officials, illegal cuts have emerged near marriage gardens, petrol pumps, markets and residential colonies, prompting vehicles to take sudden turns on busy roads. Such unplanned openings often catch speeding motorists off guard, leading to collisions.Narmadapuram Road, RKMP top concernsAccording to traffic police, several stretches in the city have become particularly vulnerable due to unsafe road design and illegal openings. On Narmadapuram Road, the low height of the road divider allows pedestrians to cross the carriageway at random locations. Since the road functions as a high-speed corridor, such crossings significantly raise accident risk.A similar problem exists near the Rani Kamlapati Railway Station, where gaps in the divider are frequently used by pedestrians to cross the road in front of railway station entry and exit points, especially during peak hours.In Misrod, multiple cut points between the main carriageway and service road on Narmadapuram Road have become a major safety concern. Traffic officials said the openings allow vehicles to make sudden crossovers and turns, while overspeeding on the wide, well-maintained stretch further increases the chances of serious accidents.Vulnerable points identifiedA senior traffic official said broken divider railings on Airport Road have made the stretch vulnerable as pedestrians frequently cross through the damaged sections. Similarly, the problem is particularly severe near Samardha Bridge in Misrod on Narmadapuram Road, where vehicles often move directly from service roads onto the main carriageway through damaged divider railing sections.During a recent ground survey, traffic police identified several risky or illegal cut points on Gandhi Nagar Road, Airport Road in Gandhi Nagar, the Bhopal-Indore Highway near Khajuri, Hamidia Road, areas near Halalpura Bus Stand and marriage gardens, and newly constructed concrete roads passing through residential areas in Shahpura, Chunabhatti and Kolar.In Nishatpura, near Vishwakarma Nagar, residents have created several illegal cut points by breaking the road divider. Motorists frequently use these openings to cross or enter the main carriageway, increasing the risk of road accidents and disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.Officials also pointed to a large cut point near the Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in Chunabhatti. The wide road encourages high-speed movement of vehicles, and police have recommended installation of speed breakers on both approaches to improve safety.Similar concerns have been raised on cut points on Kolar Six-Lane Road near Mahabali Nagar and in front of Sahu Market near Mansarovar College and speed reduction measures along with hazard sign boards should be installed.‘Close illegal cuts, install safety measures’Additional DCP (Traffic) Basant Kaul said speed breakers are essential on roads merging with main carriageways to ensure vehicles slow down before entering high-speed traffic corridors.“Illegal median cuts should be closed on a priority basis. Radium reflective markings and hazard sign boards need to be installed at cut points to improve visibility, particularly during night hours, and reduce the risk of accidents,” he said.On roads passing through residential areas, road construction agencies should build scientifically designed speed breakers near median cuts so that vehicles slow down gradually without sudden jolts, ensuring both commuter safety and driving comfort, he added.