By Citizen’s Journalist Dr. Dinesh
Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram): A head-on collision near Sinclairs Junction at around 9.30 pm has once again exposed the growing road safety concerns on the newly developed Marina Road, where more than a dozen accidents have reportedly occurred. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in Thursday night’s collision, with the drivers sustaining only minor injuries, according to initial reports. An ambulance rushed to the spot, while the airbag of one of the vehicles reportedly deployed on impact.
The latest accident has heightened concerns over the safety of a stretch increasingly frequented by residents for evening walks, jogging and other recreational activities. That no pedestrian was caught in Thursday’s collision was a matter of relief, but repeated accidents underline the potential risks to both motorists and pedestrians.
While police personnel have been maintaining night patrols in the area, enforcement alone cannot address the underlying traffic-safety concerns. Strict lane discipline, regulated speeds and responsible driving are equally essential to prevent dangerous encounters on the road.
A possible engineering solution that merits urgent consideration is the resurfacing and slight widening of the existing closed road section behind the toilet block. Reopening this stretch to traffic could facilitate a more orderly movement of vehicles between Mazar and Aberdeen Bazaar, allowing traffic in both directions to maintain their respective left-hand lanes.
The stretch could also serve as a physical traffic divider or island, separating opposing streams of vehicles and reducing the risk of head-on collisions. However, the proposal would require a proper traffic engineering assessment, particularly regarding road width, visibility, pedestrian movement and appropriate markings.
Marina Road is an important public space and an increasingly popular recreational destination. It should not acquire the distinction of becoming an accident-prone stretch. The recurrence of collisions calls for a review of the existing traffic arrangement and timely corrective intervention by the concerned authorities.
