Palasuni NH-16 Nightmare Returns: Oil Spill and Accidents Trigger Traffic Chaos in Bhubaneswar
The Palasuni section of National Highway 16 near Bhubaneswar has once again become a nightmare for daily commuters and pedestrians, with a recent surge in accidents bringing back long-standing safety concerns. This notorious stretch, with its history of both major and minor incidents, saw a recurrence on Wednesday night that severely disrupted traffic flow and highlighted ongoing risks.
Hydraulic Oil Spill Creates Hazardous Conditions
According to eyewitness accounts, a heavy truck traveling from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack late Wednesday night reported a hydraulic oil spill and halted at Palasuni. The incident resulted in hundreds of litres of hydraulic oil being spilled across the road surface, creating a major safety hazard for motorists navigating the area after dark.
Prompt officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) were immediately pressed into action to implement remedial measures. To prevent further accidents and damage, NHAI workers covered the oily portion of the road with sand and diverted traffic for more than two hours, causing significant delays during peak evening hours.
"We moved at a snail's pace from Vani Vihar up to Hanspal last night for the accident at Palasuni," said Bidyadhar Moharana, a commuter who found himself trapped in the resulting traffic jam on Wednesday night. "It was absolutely chaotic. It took almost 40 minutes to cross a 2-km stretch that normally takes just a few minutes."
Recent Car Collision Adds to Safety Concerns
This oil spill incident was not an isolated occurrence at Palasuni in recent days. Just a few days prior, a speeding four-wheeler coming from the Cuttack side toward Bhubaneswar rammed into another car at the same location, causing similar inconvenience to commuters and raising further safety alarms.
The impact of this collision was so severe that one car literally climbed over the other and remained tilted on the highway for approximately an hour, creating a dangerous obstruction on this busy national highway. Fortunately, despite the dramatic nature of the accident, no fatalities or major injuries were reported from this particular incident.
"It was a horrific scene," recalled Savitri Jena, a local shopkeeper who witnessed the collision. "The car coming from the Cuttack side was moving at a breakneck speed and hit the other car from behind. It couldn't jump over completely but remained mounted on top of the other car, creating a terrifying spectacle for everyone passing by."
NHAI's Ongoing Safety Measures and Infrastructure Development
Notably, Palasuni has frequently made headlines over the years due to the persistent accidents witnessed along this stretch of National Highway 16. In response to these ongoing safety concerns, the NHAI has implemented several measures aimed at improving conditions, including the operationalization of a foot overbridge to enhance pedestrian safety.
The authority is currently engaged in widening the stretch from four to six lanes as part of broader infrastructure improvements. "We are widening the NH-16 section near Palasuni with the construction of a third bridge over Gangua Nullah," explained Suraj Singh, Project Director at NHAI. "In the recent incidents, our officials, along with the police, also promptly acted to avoid further accidents and minimize disruption to traffic flow."
The recurrence of accidents at Palasuni underscores the urgent need for continued safety enhancements along this critical transportation corridor. As daily commuters and pedestrians navigate this hazardous stretch, authorities face mounting pressure to implement more comprehensive solutions that address both immediate risks and long-term infrastructure challenges on National Highway 16.
