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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken sou motu cognizance of the recent road accidents in Rajasthan and Telangana, which happened on major Expressways. The court took up the matter after an accident on November 2, in Rajasthan's Phalodi killed 10 women and 4 children.
The apex court sought a response on the accidents from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi issued notices to both of them, and sought their responses within 2 weeks on the cause of the accident.
The court observed that the reason for such tragic accidents in most of the cases is the poor condition of roads. This, the court said, leads several vehicles to lose control and in trying to avoid potholes, ram into other vehicles.
The court asked the NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport to submit a report on the condition of the highways and also inform them whether road builders follow rules while laying down the Highways and Expressways across India. The court also asked responses from the Home Minister, Telangana government and Rajasthan government on the issue. The secretaries of these states and ministries should also be made party to this case, the court ordered.
The court said that after reviewing the state of Highways in Telangana and Rajasthan, they will review the condition of roads and Highways in the other parts of the country, as well.
Justice JK Maheshwari, also talked about the dhabas on the roadside on Highways. He said that several truck drivers stop their vehicles by the roadside and visit the eateries nearby for food. At times some other vehicles coming at high speed on the same route crashes into the stationary trucks, leading to major accidents. He said that the need of the hour was how to stop such incidents.
The court observed that even though toll tax is being collected by the government, the condition of roads is not proper. They also said that several common people have opened dhabas on the roadside, where opening such small shops is not feasible.
The court asked NHAI and the Ministry to specifically submit a report on the recent accidents on the 2 Highways in Telangana and Rajasthan.
