Though bulbs have been fitted in the lamp posts between Baramunda and Khandagiri, they are yet to be switched on. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, July 10: The lack of streetlights in the 13-km stretch between Khandagiri and Palasuni on the NH-5 has made it prone to accidents. Though the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deposited Rs 3.67 crore with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation for this purpose, work has come to a halt because of the ongoing expansion of the highway.

It is being pointed out that though the stretch between Barmunda Square and Khandagiri Square has already been widened, civic authorities are being slack in illuminating the stretch. The corporation has installed bulbs in the poles and have also tested them in the beginning of the year. But the stretch still remains dark because the poles are to be energised.

Police sources said nearly 100 accidents have occurred so far this year on this stretch and 30 per cent of these were fatal. The ongoing construction work has also made life difficult for people. “During heavy rain, visibility decreases and driving becomes difficult. Besides, the various diversions are not easy to spot at night,” said G.K. Rao, a truck operator from Andhra Pradesh.

The corporation had signed an agreement with the NHAI for the illumination project in February 2008. The NHAI released the money in October 2009 for the same. The proposal was to put up 550 streetlights on the 13-km stretch.

“At present, the construction of five overbridges on the highway is on and the light poles will be relocated after the work is done. But there is no such problem on the stretch between Barmunda Square and Khandagiri Square,” said the project director of NHAI, Bhubaneswar, Aditya Kumar Ray.

This stretch of the national highway is important because 75 per cent of city’s population depends on this road. Sources said more than 60,000 vehicles pass through this stretch everyday.

Even traffic police personnel face difficulty in regulating the traffic at night on this stretch. “In 2009, a traffic constable and a home guard were killed and three traffic personnel were injured while on duty on this stretch of the highway. Without proper illumination, traffic management has become really difficult,” said a police officer.

“Motorcyclists are most vulnerable to accidents on this stretch but the civic body is least bothered about their safety,” said Madhusudan Samal, a resident of Khandagiri.

However, corporation officials said the illumination project had suffered because of the ongoing expansion work. “Earlier, the BMC was unable to complete the work because of a court case. But we have completed the work on the stretch between Barmunda and Khandagiri and hope the lights will start functioning soon,” said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.