Police want BRTS track free of plantations near crossroads, bus stops

Surat: City traffic police have approached Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) asking it to remove thick plantations near bus stops and crossroads on BRTS track. Traffic police recently wrote to SMC after investigation in multiple accidents on BRTS routes in the city that have claimed six lives of pedestrians since January.
Traffic police identified common spots on BRTS routes that are proving life threatening for pedestrians. They found poor visibility to be the common reason for pedestrians and bus drivers leading to accidents.
“At many spots, plantations on BRTS track is higher than the height of a common person. A pedestrian and a bus driver cannot see each other while crossing the track and this is leading to accidents,” deputy commissioner of police, traffic, Sudhir Desai, told TOI.
On January 29, Vinni Patel and Dinesh Patel were killed while crossing BRTS track. They were knocked down by a bus near Satya Nagar bus stop at Udhna. In a similar accident, Hema Maru died after she was knocked down by a bus near Mora Bhagal crossroads in Rander on January 26 . Pedestrians had lost their lives on BRTS track falling under the limits of Umra, Puna and Dindoli police stations as well.
“Senior traffic police officers visit the spot when a fatal accident takes place. In these accidents, pedestrians were killed and based on our investigation, we wrote to SMC to remove the plantations,” said B N Dave, assistant commissioner of police, traffic.
“There is enough gap between each plant and it is not affecting visibility at present. We need to create awareness among pedestrians to not cross the track from anywhere,” said S J Gautam, superintendent, garden department, SMC. The civic officials are yet to start working on the instructions received from police.
“The plantations on BRTS track have an aesthetic value, but here security should be a priority. Plantations on small section of around 10 metres near bus stops and crossroads should be removed,” added Desai.