Chandigarh: In response to congestion and the high incidence of accidents on Airport Road in Mohali, the traffic police have recommended a series of measures. These include installing new traffic lights with timer settings, constructing roundabouts and slip roads, closing unnecessary cuts, and removing encroachments.
These steps are aimed at making commuting safer for passengers traveling on this road. The report, submitted to the Mohali Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairperson of the District Road Safety Committee, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) Chief Administrator, the Mohali Municipal Commissioner, and regional transport authorities, noted that the district witnesses an average of 400 road mishap deaths a year, according to a Hindustan Times report.
As per data compiled by the police department, Mohali recorded 486 road mishaps and 296 fatalities in 2022. Of these, a staggering 62 percent of fatalities occurred on Airport Road and surrounding areas, including Sohana, Kharar, Zikarpur, Lalru, and Dera Bassi.
The police report also identified red-light jumping, wrong-side driving, speeding, and unnecessary cuts as the leading causes of accidents. Additionally, it stated that the three prominent malls in Mohali, including one on Airport Road in Sector 67, significantly contribute to the traffic chaos.
Deepak Pareek, Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), also directed the Traffic SP and SP City to ensure the deployment of officers at key areas from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. “After evaluating traffic congestion issues in the district and streamlining traffic, we are ensuring the deployment of officers during peak hours to clear bottlenecks and jams," said the SSP, as quoted by Hindustan Times.