Under-Construction Four-Lane Highway Becomes a 'Death Trap'; Neglect of Safety Standards and Speeding Heavy Vehicles Lead to Multiple Tragedies
Bhagalpur/Sultanganj: People are paying the ultimate price with their lives due to negligence on the under-construction four-lane highway in Sultanganj. Construction is not yet complete, and the road has not been formally inaugurated; yet, heavy vehicles are already racing across it at high speeds. Due to a severe lack of safety standards and the absence of clear traffic guidelines, this road has become a "death trap," where horrific road accidents are occurring almost daily.
Tragedies near Mirhatti Village
The most recent incident occurred near Mirhatti village in Sultanganj, where four people died in two separate accidents within a span of just two hours on Friday night. According to eyewitnesses, there is a complete lack of lane discipline on the under-construction stretch. In one incident, two trucks collided head-on, with one of them coming from the wrong side. Just 90 minutes prior to this, a speeding truck had mowed down three friends riding a motorcycle, killing them on the spot.
Why Has This Road Become a 'Death Trap'?
Several serious technical and administrative lapses have been identified as the reasons behind the rising number of accidents:
Absence of Signage: There is a total lack of directional signages and warning boards. Truck drivers arriving from outside do not know where the road is one-way or where a junction is, leading them to drive on the wrong side.
Illegal Cuts and Design Flaws: An unauthorized cut has been created near the overbridge at Mirhatti, which connects the main highway to the lower PCC road. It remains unclear whether this cut is intended for construction work or has been illegally made by locals, making it a primary point for collisions.
Lack of Lane Discipline: Despite the highway being under construction, the movement of heavy trucks and dumpers is unrestrained. Often, trucks are parked on the side of the road without any reflectors or indicators, causing other vehicles to crash into them in the dark of night.
Questions Raised Over Administrative Inaction
Local residents and businesses along the highway claim that the administration's involvement is limited to collecting fines. Although traffic police have been provided with 'speed radar guns' for speed control, no concrete initiatives are being taken to curb the menace. Fines alone will not stop these accidents; strict monitoring and a "Stop-and-Correct" (Roko-Toko) campaign are urgently needed.
This uncontrolled movement of heavy vehicles has been reported not only in Sultanganj but also between Naugachia and Bihpur, where several drivers have lost their lives in recent days. In the last two and a half months alone, several major accidents involving passenger vehicles like autos and buses being rammed by trucks have occurred, resulting in dozens of deaths.
This compromise on safety in the name of development is taking a heavy toll on the general public. Until the road is fully prepared and strict safety standardsāsuch as proper barricading, adequate lighting, and active deployment of traffic policeāare implemented, this under-construction four-lane highway may claim even more lives. The administration must take immediate cognizance and strictly regulate the operation of heavy vehicles.
