Metal anti-crash barrier for Undabatti Tank

The infamous Undabatti Tank on the Mysore-Nanjangud road (National Highway 212) into which a vehicle fell last December, killing 31 people, is finally getting a permanent guard-metal crash barrier.

The National Highway Department has begun the work on erecting the railings on both the sides of the bund road, at an estimated cost of Rs 32.25 lakh.

An officer preferring anonymity told Deccan Herald that the barrier which will be 70 cm high from the road level is designed according to Indian Road Congress (IRC) stipulated norms. Similar barriers are installed on all the major national highways in the State. That apart, a culvert, linking the steep valley on a portion of land
opposite the tank, has been created to check stagnation of water in the tank.

Owing to extraction of red sand earlier, the tank is deep, holding water to its fullest during heavy rains.

The other safety measures undertaken include re-asphalting the road, constructing multiple road humps near the lake (from Nanjangud side) and sign boards cautioning travelers about the tank.

Another board warning against overataking will also be installed, the officer added.
Last December, 31 people died when the maxicab they were travelling in, fell into the water.

The tragedy had triggered protests demanding installing of barriers to check the recurrence of mishaps. Some half-hearted measures were taken, such as installing stone slabs in between the existing guard stones.

A stretch of road was also asphalted. But, as if to underline the need for more serious measures, a car carrying newly weds plunged into the lake crashing against the newly installed stones.

In another incident, a stalled car which was being pushed fell off the road.
Following the incidents, voices for permanent solutions to prevent the mishaps, grew louder.

The highway authorities expedited the process exhorting their higher ups to clear the pending proposals to install railings on the bund road of three lakes - Dalvoy near Gejjagalli Shetty near Mandakalli on Mysore-Nanjangud Road, and Varuna on T Narsipur road and the tank here.

The authorities cleared the project pertaining to Undabatti Tank, obviously considering its severity.

The work at the remaining three lakes estimated to cost Rs 1.03 crore in total, awaits clearance, the officer added.