NHAI starts removing road kerb to curb waterlogging
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Bhubaneswar: In a bid to prevent waterlogging, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up an initiative to remove the road kerb or concrete borders put up along some of the problematic sections of NH-16.
NHAI officials said metal crash barriers, which are installed along the highway to prevent heavy damage to vehicles in case of any accident, are already serving the purpose the road kerb would do in similar circumstances.
"We have identified some of the problematic sections of NH-16 within the city limits where waterlogging is an issue. We found the road kerb to be the reason behind it," NHAI project director (Bhubaneswar circle), Suraj Singh, said.
Singh said that the drive to remove the road kerb has been taken up. "Presently, the work is ongoing on the service lane between Rasulgarh and Vani Vihar Square. Later, we will identify other problematic zones," he said.
Road kerbs serve several purposes on roads and pavements. Primarily, they act as a physical barrier, preventing vehicles from veering off the road and ensuring pedestrian safety. They also play a crucial role in drainage, guiding water away from the road surface and into drainage systems.
"Metal crash barriers are already installed, which are serving the primary purpose of road kerbs. For guiding the stormwater during heavy rain, other corrective measures will be put in place in the waterlogging-prone sections of the highway," an NHAI official said.
NHAI is already taking several other measures to prevent waterlogging on NH-16 during heavy rain. The highway authorities are nearing completion of a connecting drain near Iskcon Temple, where waterlogging is a perennial issue.
Besides, NHAI also plans to intensify its enforcement activities, especially against sand-laden trucks, which often contribute to waterlogging on the flyovers. Sand falling off such uncovered trucks often blocks the drainage system on the flyovers.
"Last year, NHAI had almost resolved the waterlogging issues on the service lane. But a new problem of waterlogging arose on the flyover. The authorities need to take proactive measures to prevent the waterlogging," Chinmay Mohapatra, a resident of Acharya Vihar, said.
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