The expressways and highways built by India, in recent times, “are better than the American roads or it would be so by next year.” This is a claim being made by Union Roads and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari time and again. He presided over the grand transformation of India’s highway systems – the beginnings of which were when AB Vajpayee headed the nation from the late 1990s. The Modi government took this forward with more seriousness. However, the large numbers of accidents on these roads are a matter of serious concern. Last year, there were as high as around 1, 60,000 road deaths in the country. The latest major mishap was in Buldhana district of Maharashtra that took 26 lives. The passengers were charred to death in the fire caused by the Nagpur-Pune private bus that hit a divider and burst into flames.
Notably, the officials were quick to cover up the reasons. They are adept at inventing ‘reasons’ like road ‘hypnosis’, or citing sleepy driving, drunk driving, or burst of tyre, etc., as the reasons. All of these are possible. But, what they often mischievously try to hide are their own faults, as should also be the case now. Speeding vehicles hitting road dividers abruptly is quite common. This is due to the failure of the road authorities to demarcate such spots and alert motorists well in advance through precautionary steps and warning lights. White markings at the approach and erection of boards in a manner visible at night too are not often done. Neither the contractors nor the engineers ensure such safety steps are in place. The sense of irresponsibility and dereliction of duty are all too evident. Worse, they get away with their act. In the present case too, the road stretch and the poorly laid divider were an invitation to disaster. However, officials misguided the media with other theories – ‘road hypnosis’ and much else to cover up the actual reason or reasons.
The tendency on the part of the government is to launch an inquiry. When senior officials are appointed to do the inquiry, their obsession is predictably to save the errant officials. An inquiry or the announcement of ex-gratia or compensation to the families of the deceased and to the injured – a paltry two lakhs from the Centre and five lakhs from the state government in the present case – does not help much. The bread-winners of the families themselves have perished. When the road ministries earn a whopping amount by way of huge road taxes, a more comprehensive insurance scheme for all such accident victims should be put in place. It must be ensured that the money reaches such families without fail and in a speedy mode.