Dwarka Flyover – killer flyover in Delhi blame game
I am not a native of Delhi – landed here only a couple of years back. On my first trip to Dwarka, I did not have any idea how to get there. I had to go to Mahavir Enclave, a dusty crowded place next to Dwarka. The instructions were, while you are on the flyover, watch for the sign boards as the exit ramp to Mahavir Enclave appears a bit suddenly.
It happened exactly like that. If you saw it too late, you would swerve to get into it likely leading to an accident; someone from behind would run into you.
It was obvious that the design of the flyover was faulty. On further trips on the Dwarka flyover, I noticed that people tended to speed up, and the curves were too sharp and flat for motorcycles and scooters which rely on banking to turn into corners. Overall, bad design for sure. The curves are a bit sharp even for cars if the drivers are not alert enough.
So obviously the designers of the Dwarka flyover are to blame. Or are they?
If it was obvious to a Delhi newbie like me on my first trip on the Dwarka flyover that it is a dangerous place to drive fast, what about everyone else? What about all the people who have been to Dwarka who would warn you of the dangers if you drive fast there?
Let’s try blaming the deisgners of the Dwarka flyover. It is not really a flyover – it is a viaduct that just passes over a winding narrow road under it, much like the JJ Flyover of Mumbai. The JJ Flyover has similar issues with sharp curves – and if you are not alert, you would have a crash there. The difference is that there are high barriers on the JJ Flyover, and people do not fly off the and land on the ground 30-40 feet below.
Dwarka flyover too is narrow as the road below it is narrow. It takes sharp turns because the road below takes sharp turns.
There might be solutions to such a situation, certainly. Maybe lots of rumble strips. Maybe real high railings.
But there is some responsibility on the people too. This is India, where there is no nanny state protecting us and caring for us. One thing life in India teaches you is that you are mostly on your own. Your ass is your business.
How come there have been more accidents after the Holi accident on the Dwarka Flyover that killed 3? There were two more accidents afterwards. After the Holi accident, the news was on TV, newspapers, FM radio, and everyone was talking about it. Who are the people who remain unaware of the dangers of the Dwarka Flyover even after so much publicity? Remember that the Dwarka flyover has been known to be troublesome for the last 2 or 3 years. Who are these people who remain blissfully unaware of it all?
I am not really talking about the people who died. There are lots of idiots even now on the Dwarka Flyover, even after all this publicity. Perhaps, cops should just slap anybody who speeds on the flyover. That might be a good lesson, and the cops would enjoy it I am sure.
