E-Paper
NH-44: Lifeline for some, death trap for many commuters
The fatalities make an average of 1.5 persons per KM per year, three times more than the national average of 0.43 persons
CHANDIGARH: A study into socio-economic impact assessment of 278km long National Highway-44 stretch passing through Punjab reveals that it changed many lives for good, but also led to 1,273 fatalities in 1,626 accidents, during a period of three years (from 2016 to 2019), according to a recent study conducted by the Institute of Development and Communication, Chandigarh, which was instituted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The fatalities make an average of 1.5 persons per kilometre per year, three times more than the national average of 0.43 persons. The rural stretches accounted for 59% accidents while the highway passing from the urban areas had much less accidents (41%). In the accidents, persons in age group 18 to 45 were involved.
According to the study report, the road that cuts across Punjab from Shambu to Mammon in Pathankot has 157 black spots and the most fatal being highly populated and industrialised stretch Mandi Gobindgarh to Khanna, which recorded an average of 3.4 deaths, followed by Sirhind to Mandi Gobindgarh (3.2 deaths) and Ludhiana to Phillaur (2.4 deaths).
Institute of development and communication, Chandigarh, led by researcher Prof Shuchi Kapuria conducted the study instituted by NHAI, which divided the entire road into 12 stretches, the longest 43.2 kilometres stretch between Khanna to Ludhiana reported highest number of 265 deaths and has highest number of 37 black spots.
The data of three years was referred as figures of the period after that could not be compiled owing to a lock down due to Covid pandemic.
The study further concluded that time frame between 6 pm to 9 pm recorded maximum number of accidents 18.6% of the total; 3 pm to 6 pm as second highest and the time period from midnight to 6 am is the safest time to travel on the NH-44.
The study revealed that there is a sharp increase in number of fatalities and accidents and the most affected stretches Bhogpur to Dasuya and Shambu to Rajpura which saw an increase in fatalities by 68% and 61%. The study also reported that rash and negligent driving comprised 24.5% in 2011 which increased to 27.43% in 2019.
At least 48 villages were selected at 12 points along the highway within a linear distance of five kilometres which showed that the highway contributed to easy access to school education particularly for girl students leading fall in dropout rate and absenteeism among the teachers. “Respondents perceived that drop rate in schools have fallen after coming up of the highway. Better connectivity via highway helped in establishing new schools and anganwandi centres,” said the report.
It adds that close proximity to the highway provides easy access to the markets located far from the villages that offered a higher price for their produce. “The villages along the highway reported considerable area under vegetables and fruits and higher dairy activity. We have come across farmers who have shifted from growing wheat and paddy to short duration cash crops,” said the study, report adding that for setting up of the food processing units, vicinity to the highway was predominant criteria.
“We have taken each village as a case study and there are success stories in each of the village,” said Prof Kapuria, adding that there have been cases where socio-economy of a village has been doomed for dissecting the villages into two parts with settlement and agriculture land on two sides. She suggested planning and public interface before planning such project for its optimum benefit to larger population chunk.
