The grand inauguration of the Saoner-Dhapewada-Gondkhairi National Highway in Nagpur, built with an investment of ₹720 crore, has been overshadowed by a critical public safety failure. While the highway boasts impressive and wide sections, the stretch passing through Dhapewada has become a dangerous zone for pedestrians, drawing fierce criticism from local residents who accuse authorities of severe neglect.
A Highway of Contrasts: Grand Infrastructure vs. Basic Safety Neglect
Residents of Dhapewada, an area revered as the "Pandharpur of Vidarbha" for its religious significance, report that the absence of fundamental pedestrian infrastructure has turned daily commuting into a hazardous ordeal. Despite constant heavy vehicle traffic and significant footfall from pilgrims, schoolchildren, and the elderly, there is no pedestrian subway or safe crossing point on this crucial segment.
Locals argue that several reported accidents are not mere mishaps but direct results of administrative apathy. The community's frustration is compounded by the state of a newly built bus stop at Dhapewada Budruk. Without a subway or a safe access road, buses are compelled to stop directly on the high-speed national highway. Consequently, the bus stop stands unused, while commuters, including young students, are forced to wait dangerously on the highway itself, exposed to fast-moving traffic.
Community Anguish and Official Response
Despite repeated appeals to the administration, residents claim their pleas for safe crossings have been ignored, even as accident reports continue. Local resident Sandeep Dhakate powerfully expressed the community's distress, stating that people, especially children, cross the highway every day "with their lives in their hands."
In response to the growing outcry, a senior National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official provided an update. The official confirmed that a proposal for constructing a foot overbridge (FOB) is already underway. This planned FOB will include ramps to facilitate bicycles and two-wheelers. The project, with an estimated cost of ₹3.5 crore, is anticipated to be completed within a nine-month timeframe.
The High Cost of Overlooked Safety in Infrastructure Projects
This situation highlights a recurring issue in major infrastructure development, where core safety features for vulnerable road users are sometimes treated as an afterthought. The inauguration of the ₹720 crore highway stands in stark contrast to the perilous daily reality for Dhapewada's residents. The promised foot overbridge brings hope, but the nine-month wait underscores a critical planning gap that has already put lives at risk. The incident serves as a stark reminder that true development must seamlessly integrate grand-scale connectivity with grassroots-level safety for all citizens.
