Here, safety norms are disregarded and lives are at risk

Thiruvananthapuram: Days after a two-wheeler rider was injured after iron rods pierced into his knees, no steps were initiated to remove the rods from the middle of the road at Kazhakkoottam where flyover work is in progress.
For a motorist, the only means to know that he is entering a road where large-scale construction is happening is a line of plastic traffic cones placed there to separate construction site from the motorable portion of the road.
The national highway widening work undertaken by KNR Constructions and construction of Kazhakkoottam flyover by Rameshwar Dayal and Son-Cherian Varkey Construction Company (RDS-CVCC) are marked by serious violations of safety norms, especially the ‘Guidelines on Traffic Management in Work Zones’ of Indian Roads Congress, 2014.
The IRC guidelines suggested work zone traffic management plans (WTMP) to assure continuity of movement of motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic.
One of the primary features of WTMP is to provide appropriate warning, delineation, and channelization to guide road users in advance using proper pavement marking, signing, or other devices. However, the current state of the NH stretch confuses motorists in several ways.
Lack of prior warnings about temporary diversions in place on the NH, barricading of work zones, provision for safe movement of pedestrians etc. are major concerns pertaining to the stretch. Even during construction of obligatory span at Chackai, traffic movement is allowed under the construction side, which put motorists’ safety under risk.
Near the Chackai overbridge, traffic cones were irresponsibly placed to demarcate the road for two-way traffic. Most of the cones, joined together by reflective ribbons, have toppled, creating risk for motorists, especially two-wheeler riders.
Pedestrian safety measures have also been ignored. Last year, a pedestrian was killed while walking along the Chackai overbridge where he was hit by a mounted crane. In various stretches, including Chackai Junction, pedestrians’ lives are at risk.
Though the WTMP demands contractors to provide access to temporary bus stops, buses are currently stopping on the main road. Passengers are waiting for the bus on roadsides, which lack footpath, proper demarcation or boards. Except the one in front of Infosys building, the Kazhakkoottam-Chackai stretch currently has no good bus shelters.
NHAI has kept the narrow drain between the national highway and service road open. Many, including techies, had fallen into the drain at night and suffered injuries.
The entire stretch is poorly lit and poses a major risk during night. The NHAI has used reflective ribbons and cones to guide the motorists. However, such measures are not ensured for the entire stretch. The guidelines insist that lighting devices should be provided in work zones. It says that lighting devices like floodlights, warning beacons, warning lights and electric lamps can be used.
Lack of protective gear for labourers is another major violation spotted across the stretch. Most of them are working without proper gear like helmets, reflective jackets and other safety gear. Workers who are seen giving finishing touches to the girders of the Chackai flyover don’t have proper safety gear other than the helmet.
Two labourers had lost lives during the construction works. One worker was killed in a landslide while the other was ran over by a truck.