Tempo tragedy, an eye-opener for everyone: DC Gupta

He told Deccan Herald that the officers were also loose on certain things so as the general public. They allow over loading an don’t check the drivers periodically. In a tempo with a maximum seating capacity of 15 seats, around 37 persons were travelling in that ill-fated tempo and definitely it might have affected the balance. Besides, that tempo was old and regular check-up had not been done. Time has come for the district administration to tighten certain laws and conduct regular checking of vehicles in the district.

On ensuring safety on this 23-km-stretch between Mysore and Nanjangud Road, Gupta said all necessary safety measures would be taken on this road. The iron railing would be put near three tanks that are present on this road. Apart from this what ever the civil works that were required would also be initiated as early as possible. The view would be cleared immediately and install proper warning signages near the tanks.

The DC said the Centre had already released ` 9.2 crore for the temporary repairing of the road and the work would begin within two to three days. A ` 400 crore project to make this highway four-lane has been pending before the Union Ministry of Surface Transport for many years.

The government has proposed to take up the work on the BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) basis. Need of the hour was to get this project cleared at the earliest.

On three-member committee constituted to inquire the incident, Gupta said basically it is a technical committee which would probe the reasons for the tragedy and it was purely an official committee. It would study everything and submit its findings within three days.

Based on the recommendations of the panel report, the district administration would take necessary steps.

Gupta did not rule out such accident spots in the district and said he has asked the officials concerned to identify such spots at the earliest. There is no dearth of funds to take up such works there too. The money would be released from the district administration, if needed. “Our aim is to ensure a safe and accident-free drive on this stretch of road”, he noted.