A media professional Malathi, who has been a resident of Chikkabidarikallu, said the accident could have been averted and a life saved if a sky-walk or a subway was constructed for the highway that being widened into a six-lane one by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The six-lane highway being constructed with two lanes each on the service road adds to a total width of more than 200 feet.
“It is extremely dangerous to cross the highway due to its width and high traffic density. Compounding the problem is lack of proper bus shelters on Tumkur Road. There are three to four schools on the highway. At present it is open to accidents” she said. Other residents said a need for a sky-walk similar to that constructed over the IISc campus at Yeshwantpur is needed at different points on NH-7.
However, Superintendent of Police, Bangalore Rural, S P Mahesh said a pedestrian subway is being constructed on NH-7. “We have spoken to engineers/officials of the NHAI to extend it upto the service road, on both sides of NH-7. When completed, it will provide a safe passage to cross over” he said. A traffic constable on the highway said the road will continue to be unsafe for pedestrians until the construction of the expressway and flyover is completed. “I would advice all pedestrians, including students to have a lot of patience and not rush to cross the highway” he said.
