NH-203 in Bad Shape

Bikash Choudhury


There were news report on spate of fatal accidents of foreign and other tourist on NH-203; that connects Bhubaneswar-Puri, one of the most important tourist corridor in Odisha.Traffic has grown manifold in recent times on the high way even in the late evening.However, the facility of NH-203 has not improved maching the growth in traffic.Recently, I travelled back from Puri at late evening with a friend on a bike and appaled at the danger to mortal life.In a distance of over sixty kilometres, three times I had to climb down from black top road to accommodate speeding four wheeler from the opposite direction and five times nearly hit a cyclist in complete darkness. As luck would have it; saved from 8 potential fatal accidents with just one life of mine. No wonder, Indian roads are considered one of the biggest killing field in the World.With little ingenuity, NHAI can save hundreads of human lives. Edge of the black top road of NH-203 can be eqipped with red colour flourocent markers, mud foot paths in both sides can be paved with stone or concrete along with the alignment of black top road, appropriate traffic signalls can be put up at suitable places to indicate drivers about rummblers, diversions and semi circular and blind turns on the high way.Most importantly, NHAI must take up complete overhaul of very old and severely damaged Dayanadi Bridge and plan for an alternative bridge sooner than later to keep the tourist moving to the most important tourist destination in the State i.e., Puri Jagannath temple. May good sense prevail upon NHAI.