Road to BIAL blocked after fatal accident

June 25, 2008 Comments Off on Road to BIAL blocked after fatal accident 205 Views

In my April article “Beware …. Pedestrians” I had highlighted the need for pedestrian safety and over-bridges. The closing line in that article was “The last thing we all want to see, is a repeat of the recent Mysore Road incident, and a major dharna blocking traffic for hours on end, on the only decent access road to the airport.”

This is the story on the cover page of The Deccan Herald, of today.

Locals block road to airport after mishap
Bangalore, DHNS:

Trouble erupted on the road to the Bengaluru International Airport on Tuesday night after an airpot taxi ran over a pedestrian, Dodda Thimmaiah (55), near Betta Halasur in Chikkajala police limits…

After finding Thimmaiah dead around 8 pm, irate locals stoned several airport taxis and blocked the road for over an hour. All traffic to and from the airport ground to a halt. Police had a harrowing time in reaching the spot as the nearest point — the City — from where they could make it was 9 km away. Once the cops arrived, normalcy returned and traffic resumed.

On Sunday last, another airport taxi was involved in a fatal hit-and-run case. The police have decided to strengthen patrolling on the road.

Almost immediately after BIAL opened, accidents have become a daily norm on NH-7. Despite advice to the contrary, the agency in charge, NHAI, chose to ignore this issue, and Bangaloreans are paying for it, and forcing an already over-stretched police force to manage the hopeless situation.

The BMLTA will address this lack of proper coordination, and it will behoove the Chief Minister of Karnataka to strength the agency.

In the meantime, I can only request my fellow Bangaloreans, to please drive with more care and empathy. Saving 5 minutes is not worth risking anyone’s life.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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No comments

  1. Anonymous
    April 5, 2009 at 06:02

    ya its tru…there is an alternate route to airport via Hoskote and one more from whitefield to old madras road to devanhalli village via budigeri. try these routes, lean trafic and if drive on 50km/hr…v safe route to drive….but mind it….NO DRIVING IN TWILIGHTS….have a safe trip:)

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