Time for a Re-Look at Road Engineering in Telangana
Table of Contents
Source: The Hindu
Relevance: Mains Paper-III (Governance, Social Issues)
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- Road Engineering
- Footpath Encroachment
- Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs)
- NCRB Road Accident Data (2023)
- Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety (2020)
- Potholes & Road Maintenance
For Mains:
- Systemic causes of road accidents
- Neglect of pedestrian infrastructure
- Infrastructure deficit in urban Telangana
- Impact of poor road engineering on vulnerable groups
Why in News?
A spate of devastating road accidents in Telangana — including the Kurnool sleeper bus fire that killed 19 passengers and the Chevella collision that also claimed 19 lives — has triggered nationwide concern. The incidents prompted the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety to hold urgent meetings with stakeholders in Hyderabad. The tragedies have reopened debate on an often-ignored but critical factor: road engineering and infrastructure quality.
Background
India records one of the world’s highest road accident casualties, and Telangana mirrors this trend, especially in urban belts.
Public discussions after accidents usually focus on:
- rash driving,
- traffic violations,
- unpaid challans,
but these explanations overlook deeper systemic failures in how Indian roads are designed, expanded, and maintained.
Despite rapid urbanisation, the essential components of safe road design — footpaths, dividers, shoulders, traffic-calming systems, signage — continue to be neglected in Telangana’s cities.
The Overlooked Factor: Poor Road Engineering
1. Vanishing Footpaths
During road-widening projects, the first casualty is the pedestrian.
Hyderabad — like most Indian cities — offers few accessible, continuous, safe footpaths, forcing pedestrians to walk on carriageways.
2. Vulnerable Road Users Most at Risk
The World Bank’s 2022 Environmental and Social Systems Assessment found that:
- More than 50% of India’s crash victims are pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists,
- Most belong to poorer households,
- Rural families suffer disproportionate long-term economic distress after accidents.
Obstructed, broken, or encroached footpaths are a major reason for pedestrian deaths.
3. Encroachments and Political Pressure
Pedestrian spaces are routinely occupied by:
- parked cars,
- two-wheelers,
- street vendors,
- food kiosks.
Efforts to relocate hawkers often collapse into political confrontation, resulting in the continued sacrifice of road safety for political convenience.
4. NCRB Data Signals a Deep Crisis
According to NCRB 2023:
- 27,586 pedestrians died in India due to road accidents.
- 1,554 pedestrian deaths occurred in Telangana alone.
This accounts for:
- 16% of India’s road fatalities,
- 20% of Telangana’s road fatalities.
Yet NCRB does not provide detailed data on engineering-related failures.
Road Maintenance: A Critical Gap
The Chevella accident underscored failures in road upkeep:
- A lorry swerved to avoid a pothole, leading to a frontal collision.
- Poor road surface quality is a recurring cause of accidents.
Despite this, conversations usually revolve around “black spots” rather than holistic maintenance, which includes:
- pothole-free roads,
- proper shoulders,
- functioning drainage,
- periodic audits.
A dedicated fund for mapping, repairing and maintaining roads is urgently needed.
Global Commitments and Local Reality
India is signatory to the Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety (2020), which commits countries to halve road deaths by 2030.
The Declaration urges the inclusion of:
- safe system design,
- urban land-use integration,
- stronger enforcement,
- safer vehicles,
- improved post-crash care.
However, halfway to 2030, India and Telangana remain far from meeting these targets.
Impact: What Is at Stake
If road engineering continues to be neglected:
- Vulnerable road users will remain at the highest risk.
- Pedestrian fatalities will stay disproportionately high.
- Urban congestion and pollution will worsen.
- Public trust in transport systems will erode.
- Telangana’s economic productivity will suffer due to accident-related losses.
Road safety is not merely a traffic issue — it is a public health, socio-economic, and governance challenge.
Conclusion
A road safety turnaround requires more than penalising drivers—it demands urgent upgrades in road engineering, maintenance, governance, and community awareness. Telangana and India need a coordinated, sustained effort to protect vulnerable road users and prevent avoidable deaths.
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements about the UN Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030):
- It aligns with the Stockholm Declaration and promotes walking, cycling, and public transport.
- It focuses only on vehicle safety and excludes improvements to roads or emergency care.
- It was developed by WHO along with UN regional commissions and the UN Road Safety Collaboration.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Correct Answer: (b) Only two