The area beneath the viaduct of the Joka-Esplanade Metro corridor needs to be fenced immediately to prevent accidents on Diamond Harbour Road in southwest Kolkata, police have told the Metro authorities.
During a recent meeting with Metro officials, the police said several stretches beneath the viaduct between Taratala and Joka were either lying unfenced or the fences had collapsed, making it easy for pedestrians to walk from one flank of Diamond Harbour Road to another.
The Metro authorities were planning a trial run on this 6.5-kilometre stretch later this month. The police have urged the officials to complete the fencing before that.
“There have been eight fatal accidents in the last six months around Behala Chowrasta, Sakherbazar and Barisha. If the fences beneath the viaduct are restored, we expect fatalities to come down significantly,” said a senior police officer.
A quarterly report on road accidents drawn up by Kolkata police between January and March had identified Diamond Harbour Road as one of the top three accident-prone roads, along with Basanti Highway and EM Bypass.
Officers have identified the tendency of a section of pedestrians to walk across the road as one of the reasons for the high number of accidents.
Most portions of the stretch between Taratala and Joka beneath the viaduct were fenced with bamboo after the Metro authorities decided to landscape the area with decorative plants and grass.
Only small portions were left unfenced.
Over time, the bamboo fences were either damaged or uprooted between the Metro pillars, making it easier for residents to walk across the road.
The police said the road had been widened and repaired before the pandemic.
During the lockdown and thereafter, when the vehicle movement had gone down, the missing fences posed no threat.
“With the resumption of movement of all types of vehicles, the number of accidents has started rising,” the officer said.
“In some patches, the bamboo fences have been completely uprooted.”
Metro officials said they were aware of the challenges posed by the damaged bamboo fences beneath the viaduct and were planning to rebuild them shortly.
“We are also planning to identify small pockets where Metro vehicles can be left parked for emergency duties beneath the stations on this stretch,” said a senior official.
“We remain committed to our responsibilities and this issue will be attended to shortly.”
