NHAI removes large hoardings on NH-16

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to ensure commuter safety, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started removing large hoardings along NH-16, especially between the capital city and Cuttack.
Work in Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) area has started while it will commence on the Bhubaneswar side soon, NHAI sources said. Officials said the decision was taken after the Mumbai hoarding collapse which killed 17 people in May this year.
NHAI officials also want to ensure that the hoardings do not distract the commuters, which often leads to fatal accidents.Currently, the NH-16 stretch from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar is dotted with many large hoardings.
“We have sought the cooperation from the civic administration as well as police for removal of the hoardings from the right of way of NH-16. All the hoardings in 20-metre area will be brought down,” project director (NHAI), K Nageswara Rao, said.
“Bright lights and flashy designs on the hoardings can divert the driver’s attention away from the road, increasing the risk of accidents. The hoardings can also obstruct the view of the road, making it difficult for drivers to see any obstacles ahead,” road safety expert Syed Maqbool Ali said.
NHAI has also urged advertisers to follow the guidelines and regulations while putting up hoardings along the highway. “We have been facing a little resistance but the work of removing hoardings will be completed as planned,” Rao said.