Indian freeways‏

24-Mar-2008
Dear Mr. Prime minister,

New freeways which are built all over India are extremely unsafe, though quality of road is world class. I would like to share my experience with Bangalore-Mysore and Calcutta-Durgapur freeways.

• Both sides of the road are not blocked to stop cross over or encroachment.
• Bangalore-Mysore freeway has many intersections and vehicles travelling in rightmost lane at a high speed slow down or stop for right turn. This may cause serious accident as vehicle coming behind will just ramp on stopping vehicle in front.
• There is no loop (under pass or over bridge) for U turn in Bangalore-Mysore or Calcutta-Durgapur freeways. In Calcutta-Durgapur freeway right lane opens up for U turn. However this is not international standard.
• In freeway all the vehicles should maintain similar speed to avoid accident. Here we have high speed buses like Volvo moving at a speed three times faster than Lorries. Road is shared by all types of slow moving vehicle including tractors.
• Road is heavily encroached near populous area. For example as you approach near Durgapur you will find rickshaw and auto freely crossing the road. Long distance buses will not exit from the freeway for passenger to get off. It will stop on the left lane.
• Merging and exit do not follow international norm.
• Speed limit is not displayed at a regular interval.
• People are not properly trained how to drive in a freeway. They continuously change lane, tailgate slow moving vehicle in front. They do not follow speed limit, drive over emergency lane.
• Rest areas (dhaba) are along the roadside. Because of that vehicles are parked on emergency lane. Rest area should be few hundred yards off the road with proper parking facility.
• Emergency lane is not properly laid throughout.
• Highway emergency service is extremely poor. In the event of an accident driver will not know who to call and how to locate the accident spot.
• There is no reflector along the lane. Because of this people drive with high beam on.
• In some places width of the divider is so narrow that high beam of the vehicle from opposite lane comes directly onto driver’s eye. This may cause serious accident at night.
• Use of overhead milestones is not consistent. Many places milestones are displayed at the left side of the road.

We have spent crores of rupees to build these freeways. However we didn’t pay much attention on finer points. If countries like Czech Republic or Malaysia can build world class freeways, why can’t we?