Rising 'Dance of Death' on Roads in Benipur-Manigachhi: 'Blind Spots' on NH-27 and State Highways Become Lethal
Darbhanga: The series of road accidents occurring on the National Highway (NH-27) and various State Highways (SH) passing through the Benipur and Manigachhi blocks of Darbhanga district shows no signs of stopping. Statistics from accidents on these roads over the past few months have raised serious questions about the administration’s performance and claims of road safety. Local residents state that the "blind spots" on these roads have now become harbingers of death, claiming lives almost every other day.
Neglect of Road Safety: The Root of the Problem
The construction of these roads passing through the Benipur and Manigachhi regions was intended to bring development, but today, these roads have become synonymous with insecurity. According to local residents and road safety activists, the following factors are primarily responsible for the accidents:
Dangerous Blind Spots: Due to the inability to see far ahead at the curvy bends of these roads, collisions between high-speed vehicles have become a common occurrence. There are neither warning boards nor reflectors to highlight these turns.
Encroachment: The illegal growth of shops and markets along the sides of the highways and state highways has significantly reduced the width of the roads, making it risky for two vehicles to pass simultaneously.
Uncontrolled Speed: Being highways, there is heavy pressure from heavy vehicles. Driver negligence and failure to adhere to speed limits make the accidents even more catastrophic.
Lack of Traffic Signs: There is a severe shortage of zebra crossings, speed breakers, and night-visible signboards at sensitive locations.
Rising Accidents: A Frightening Picture
Residents of Benipur and Manigachhi say they see someone they know get injured or die on these roads almost every day. Dozens of accidents have been recorded in the last fortnight alone, with school-going children, the elderly, and two-wheeler riders being the most frequent victims.
Local resident and social activist Ram Ratan Mahto says:
"We have written to the district administration and the concerned departments several times, requesting that, at the very least, large convex mirrors and signboards be installed at dangerous turns. But our voice has remained buried in office files. Is the administration waiting for a major disaster?"
Administrative Apathy and Public Outrage
The public believes that administrative negligence is directly responsible for the deaths occurring on these roads in the Benipur and Manigachhi areas.
Lack of Safety Measures: Despite road safety audits being conducted by the NHAI and PWD, no corrective steps are being taken.
Defective Engineering: During the construction of these roads, the turns and slopes were not designed scientifically, which has now become a major problem.
Necessary Improvements for Road Safety: Expert Opinions
Experts have provided some immediate suggestions to reduce accidents:
Identification of Black Spots: A comprehensive survey of the entire Benipur-Manigachhi route should be conducted to identify accident-prone areas (Black Spots) and install rumble strips immediately.
Street Light Management: High-mast lighting should be arranged at major intersections and dangerous turns.
Anti-Encroachment Drive: Illegal shops along the roadside should be removed to clear the shoulders, allowing space for vehicles during emergencies.
Awareness Campaigns: People should be educated on following road safety rules through schools and local community gatherings.
Women and Child Safety: A Serious Concern
The safety of students attending schools located along these roads is a major issue. It is often observed that there is insufficient space for school buses and autos to pass, putting children's lives in constant danger. Parents are deeply outraged, as the fear of whether their children will reach school safely has become a daily uncertainty.
Every day, the lamp of some family is extinguished on the roads of Benipur and Manigachhi. It is the duty of the administrative machinery not to view these roads merely as means of transport, but to develop them as life-saving basic infrastructure.
The local people are now in a mood for a decisive battle. They have warned that if concrete safety arrangements are not made on these roads within the next month, they will be forced to launch a widespread protest. It is high time the government prioritizes "safety" alongside "development."
