harsh

Who’s responsible for his death?

For the first time since the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway was thrown open for use in January 2008, relatives of one of the accident victims have decided to drag the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), concessionaire company DSC Ltd and the Haryana government to the court of law.

Since January 2008, 93 people have died on the Expressway in various accidents and about 50 per cent of the deceased were pedestrians.

Parents of 19-year old management student Rahul Anand said their son died trying to save a pedestrian crossing the stretch at IFFCO Chowk on March 7 for want of foot-over-bridge. He rammed his SX4 car into a stationary water tanker. The car’s front portion was damaged beyond recognition and Rahul succumbed to his injuries at a hospital later.

Workers of the concessionaire company had parked the water tanker right next to the median on the top lane with no sense of safety of the motorists, said an apparently angry KS Anand, the father of the deceased, with tears in his eyes.

Rahul Anand, the first year student of Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Gurgaon and resident of East Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, was on his way to college to attend the annual convocation when the accident took place.

“The expressway is a killer highway that has taken the lives of many people and this time it was the turn of my son. So many deaths on this stretch are only because of the recklessness of the NHAI, DSC and the state government and I have decided to sue all of them,” said Anand who owns a clearing & forwarding (cargo) firm in Mahipalpur and uses the expressway almost on a daily basis himself.

The aggrieved father said his son was driving sensibly when he all of a sudden he saw a pedestrian in front of his car while driving down from IFFCO Chowk flyover.

He said, “My son immediately turned the car to the right to avoid hitting the pedestrian and rammed his car into the water tanker. I do not understand as to why the tanker was parked on the top lane of the expressway where vehicles run at high speed?I wonder as to why NHAI and DSC did not construct foot-over bridges for pedestrians?”

anita

It's high time that the authorities took some action as these deaths seem to be a never ending story. People need to get together and collectively take action. Like, a few hundred cars block the highway for a day every week and invite the media. Let their voices be heard.

pooja

Victim’s family moves HC against NHAI & DS Constructions

4th May, Gurgaon: Over 100 people have lost their lives on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway since it was thrown open to the public in January 2008.

Alleging lack of safety measures in place on the expressway, the family of 19-year-old Rahul Anand, who died in an accident on the highway two months ago, is waging a war against the authorities concerned. K S Anand, Rahul’s father, has filed a public interest litigation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking stringent action against DSC Ltd, the concessionaire that built the expressway, and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Talking to the media on Sunday, Anand said: “The loss of lives does not stop at numbers. Rahul’s death has shattered my family. It is my mission now to get justice for all those who have been murdered on this stretch due to negligence on part of the authorities.” “NHAI and the DSC Ltd, which built the road on a ‘build, operate and transfer’ basis, should be held accountable for the public money collected by way of toll and the damages suffered by commuters on account of negligence and violation of rules...” reads the PIL.

The petition accuses H S Narula, chairman and managing director of DSC Ltd, and Sachin Sharma, vice-president (operations), of negligence and sought direction to the police to register a case under Section 304-A (causing death due to negligence) against them.

On March 8, Rahul, a student of the Indian Institute of Hotel Management, was on his way home around 3.30 pm when his car collided with a water tanker. He died before he could be administered first aid.

Anand’s lawyer Pankaj Sharma said: “The police have filed a case against the driver of the tanker. He is not solely responsible. It is the non-adherence to norms that have resulted in so many deaths.”

According to the contract signed between DSC Ltd and the NHAI, Sharma said, in case of an accident an ambulance should reach the spot within 10 minutes. “In Rahul’s case, there had been no help for a good 30 minutes. Passersby robbed him of his belongings. Had there been the provision of an ambulance, crucial time could have been saved,” said Sharma, adding that the concessionaire had failed to provide the basic facilities mentioned in the agreement. “The NHAI has not played its role as the regulator,” he added.

According to the agreement, there should be barricades on both sides of the expressway to segregate pedestrians traffic, helpline numbers at regular intervals and CCTV cameras and speed radars in place. All these facilities are missing at present. “We have also written to the NHRC, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Chief Justice of India among others, highlighting the threats on this 27.5-kilometre stretch,” said Sunil Arora, Anand’s friend who is the chairman of Air Cargo Agency Association of India.

harsh

If the owners of "Ansals" cinema can be punished for "negligence" and not taking the "precautionary measures" in ensuring safety of the people, why can't the promoters of DS constructions and NHAI be prosecuted?

After all, it took 100 people lives to ring a bell with the authorities?

The over-bridges on NH8 are being constructed for weeks now; 2-3 people on the job. Might take another 6 months or a few more deaths. (as far as pedestrains are concerned).

The highway continues to be in a big mess with no respite.

A TOTAL BLUNDER FROM DS CONSTRUCTIONS AND THE GOVT OF DELHI AND HARYANA.