Wrong-side driving at Nashik’s Indiranagar underpass, especially at night, poses accident risk

Nashik: Wrong-side driving through the Indiranagar underpass during night hours continues unchecked, posing a serious risk of major accidents as motorists routinely flout traffic rules in the absence of enforcement.Despite restrictions barring vehicles from using the underpass to cross from Govindnagar toward Indiranagar, several motorists bypass barricades and enter from the wrong direction, endangering oncoming traffic that often encounters vehicles unexpectedly.Residents have raised concerns over the growing menace, warning that the reckless practice, often done to save a few minutes, could lead to a fatal accidents if not curbed immediately. They have urged the police to step up enforcement, especially during late hours when violations are frequent.Acknowledging the issue, ACP (traffic) Advita Shinde said action will be taken to prevent further violations.“This is indeed a problem. Necessary measures will be taken to ensure that wrong-side driving is stopped during the night hours to avoid any untoward incidents in the future,” she said.Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Nashik, has initiated work to extend the underpass to accommodate safer two-way traffic movement. The project is expected to be completed ahead of the Kumbh Mela next year.Motorists pointed out that earlier measures such as CCTV surveillance and e-challans had helped curb violations, but the system was discontinued after a couple of years, leading to a resurgence of wrong-side driving in the underpass.