Drivers using the new Kestopur bridge to reach Sector V from New Town at night are facing accidents because of three unmarked speed breakers in front of Balaka Abasan.
Among the most seriously injured is Subham Mazumder, a resident of the complex. He was riding pillion on the bike of his friend who failed to spot the bump at night and crashed into it, losing balance and throwing him off the backseat of the two-wheeler that turned turtle.
“I suffered two broken teeth, a fractured hand, 16 stitches on the forehead, 18 stitches on the lip… For a month, I was admitted at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in November,” the 29-year-old told The Telegraph Salt Lake.
Subham is one of several victims of the unmarked speed breakers. The three bumps, residents allege, are difficult to spot at night as they are not marked in paint.
Now Hidco authorities have promised to rectify the situation after being alerted by The Telegraph Salt Lake. “It is just an hour’s work. We will do the needful,” said an official on Tuesday.
“The speed breakers were built by the authorities on our request after the inauguration of the Kestopur bridge on June 8 as vehicles used to pick up speed while passing by our complex to climb the bridge, making it dangerous for us. Two are in front of our gate no 3 and one in front of gate no 2. But in the absence of any visible mark on them, they have become a cause of regular accidents. It gets even worse during foggy mornings,” said Tusarkanti Sasmal, secretary of Rajhid Cooperative Housing Society, the residents’ welfare association of Balaka Abasan.
With the six-lane road coming up on the divider making the southern Major Arterial Road a 10-lane way, as reported by The Telegraph Salt Lake last Friday, the residents are hoping to have the two-lane road adjacent to their walls used as a service road, seeing slower traffic.
“But till that happens, bikers and motorists will continue to drive towards the bridge at high speed and be taken unawares by the bumpers. So we sincerely hope the authorities take corrective measures soon,” Sasmal said.
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