Illegal parking of heavy vehicles turning Jamshedpur roads into death traps

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur: The menace of illegally parked heavy vehicles at night is turning several key roads in the city into accident-prone zones, resulting in tragic fatalities. Areas such as Pardih Kali Mandir to Bhilai Pahadi, Mango Bus Stand roundabout, Motilal Nehru School, Jamco Road, Kalimati Road, Bhuiyandih and Tata Kandra Road have become particularly hazardous due to parked trucks, trailers and tankers occupying significant portions of the roads.

One of the worst-affected routes is Jemco to Jojobera in Telco, where trucks and trailers remain parked on both sides throughout the night without indicators or warning signals, making them invisible to oncoming vehicles. A recent tragic accident on February 11 claimed the lives of a father and daughter, leaving their son critically injured. Several other accidents have been reported in the past, with locals calling the road a “killer stretch.”

Residents, including BK Singh and Sardar Karandeep Singh, have raised repeated concerns, demanding streetlights and CCTV cameras to enhance safety. The absence of proper lighting further worsens the situation, making parked vehicles difficult to spot in the dark. Despite past complaints, no significant measures have been taken by authorities.

District administration and traffic police negligence has allowed illegal parking to persist, with truck drivers often avoiding designated parking areas near Sunasuniya Gate. Instead, they occupy narrow roads, forcing other vehicles into dangerous situations. The NIT turn on Tata Kandra Road is another critical spot where high-speed traffic and lack of visibility have contributed to frequent accidents.

Authorities have occasionally taken action, but the problem remains widespread. Shatabdi Majumdar, SDM, Ghalbhum, stated that further action will be taken in coordination with the District Transport Office (DTO) to prevent roadside parking violations. However, locals insist that unless strict enforcement, proper lighting and surveillance measures are implemented, lives will continue to be lost on these dangerous roads.