Hyderabad: The National Highways Authority of India has come under fire for discrimination against Adilabad district for not installing high mast lighting system near villages along the expressway, NH-44.
Members in the Legislative Assembly from the district pointed out that the NHAI had installed lighting system in all other districts, but ignored Adilabad, leading to frequent accidents on the expressway due to poor visibility at night.
They pointed out that NHAI has been earning Rs 60 crore per year from three toll gates in the district, but had failed to lay approach roads and service roads for surrounding villages to reach the highway.
“Journey by night on the expressway in Adilabad district turns dangerous due to lack of high mast lighting system near adjoining villages.
The district starts at Soan and ends at Penganga on the highway. When we start from Hyderabad to Adilabad at night, we find lighting system near all the villages falling under Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nizamabad districts, but there is no lighting near a single village in Adilabad.
When motorists or people from these villages come onto the expressway, they are knocked down by speeding vehicles due to poor visibility. These accidents have become a regular feature in our district,” said Allola Indrakaran Reddy, MLA, Nirmal Assembly constituency.
Mr Reddy brought to the notice of the government that even approach roads and service roads were not laid properly by the contractor from villages connecting to the expressway.
“The number of accidents can be reduced, if lighting system is installed. Why this discrimination only towards Adilabad district?” Mr Reddy asked.
Legislative affairs minister T. Harish Rao assured the House that the government will soon hold a meeting with NHAI officials to resolve the issue.
