Dehradun’s ambitious Smart City project has been overshadowed by a shocking incident involving a seemingly innocuous speed bump. A citizen journalist, Pankaj Panwar, took to X (formerly Twitter) to expose a dangerously unmarked speed breaker near Ghantaghar in the Smart City area, claiming it caused seven accidents in a single night on December 9th. His videos, which quickly went viral, show a series of vehicles – cars and motorcycles – violently reacting to the unexpectedly large bump, skidding, and even becoming airborne. Some videos even show the injury of a small child involved in one of the accidents.
Panwar’s videos weren’t just a condemnation of the inadequate markings; they also served as a call for greater driver responsibility. While highlighting the administration’s negligence, he pointed out the blatant disregard for traffic rules exhibited by many drivers, even with the presence of indicators (though poorly placed in this case). His comments highlight a critical point: the responsibility for road safety is shared between authorities and the drivers themselves.
The Hindustan Times corroborated Panwar’s claims, reporting local allegations of daily accidents caused by this same speed breaker near the Clock Tower. The sheer number of accidents – seven in a single night – underscores the severity of the issue. Congress spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni further amplified the outcry on X, stating that seven accidents occurred within just 15 minutes. She criticized the administration for creating speed bumps so high that they became dangerous hazards, comparing them to “mountains.”
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among netizens. Many expressed shock and concern at the apparent lack of visibility of the speed bump, questioning the poor urban planning and the decision to install it overnight without adequate warning to the public. The absence of clear signage or reflective markings has been heavily criticized as a major contributing factor to the accidents. The incident raises serious questions about the implementation and monitoring of safety measures within the Smart City project.
This incident isn’t just about a few accidents; it’s a stark reminder of the crucial need for comprehensive urban planning that prioritizes pedestrian and driver safety. The lack of appropriate signage and the potentially excessive height of the speed bump underscore the need for better oversight and a stronger commitment to safety standards in infrastructure development. The dialogue sparked by Panwar’s videos highlights the critical need for a collaborative approach involving responsible urban planning by authorities and conscientious driving by citizens to prevent future tragedies.
