Nagpur: The flyovers in Nagpur have become perilous, with night time turning these structures into virtual racing tracks. Motorists speeding recklessly on these flyovers pose significant life-threatening hazards to other road users. The recent hit-and-run incident on the Mankapur Flyover, which claimed the life of Police Sub-Inspector Dilip Chorpagar two days ago, has once again highlighted the dire need for enhanced safety measures on city flyovers.
According to official data, nine people have lost their lives on six city flyovers up to August this year, with four others suffering critical injuries. Many minor accidents go unreported, further underlining the growing danger.
Despite the severity of these incidents, 48 hours after the tragic death of veteran cop Chorpagar, the Sadar police have yet to identify the vehicle responsible. This delay reflects a broader issue– Nagpur’s flyovers lack adequate safety infrastructure. Local media has repeatedly raised concerns, advocating for the erection of iron meshes and the installation of CCTV cameras on flyovers. However, these warnings have largely been ignored by the authorities.
A senior traffic police officer revealed that out of 34 flyovers and bridges within the Nagpur Police Commissionerate, only the Sadar Flyover is equipped with CCTV cameras. “We have been informing Smart City officials and the agency responsible for camera installation to set up CCTVs on other flyovers, but nothing has been done on the ground,” the officer stated.
The absence of CCTV footage and witnesses, especially at night, often leaves the police unable to trace those responsible for hit-and-run incidents. A retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) emphasized the need for different agencies overseeing the bridges to install iron meshes on flyovers to prevent such tragedies.
