Pumpwell rider’s death, NHAI officials booked

Pumpwell rider’s death, NHAI officials booked

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 30, 2018: With National Highway Authority of India’s tardy work on the flyover at Pumpwell (Bhagawan Mahaveer) Circle on National Highway 66 claiming the life of a motorcyclist on April 29, Sunday, the Mangaluru Police have registered a case against officials concerned for causing death due to negligence under Section 304 (A) of the Indian Penal Code.

Akshay (26), a resident of Kumpala was riding a motorcycle from his residence to Mangaluru with his friend Puneet on pillion on April 29,  Sunday morning to attend a dance programme. As he was riding on the service road near Fr. Muller Convention Centre, he encountered a pothole filled with water and fell on the road along with the vehicle. A truck trailing the two-wheeler ran over the riders killing Akshay on the spot, while Puneet, though did not come under the wheels of the truck, received serious injuries because of the fall, said Mangaluru Traffic South Police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) Uma Prashanth said that the poor condition of the service road of the National Highway was the cause for the accident. The police have registered a case against NHAI officers for alleged negligence in maintaining the road in motorable condition. The truck driver too was booked for rash and negligent driving as well as causing death by negligence.

Navayuga Udupi Tollway Pvt. Ltd., who is building the 90-km four-lane NH 66 between Talapady and Kundapur, is constructing flyovers at Pumpwell and Thokkottu since eight years.

While major portions of the NH 66 between Talapady and Kundapura are made four-lane, the construction of major flyovers have remained incomplete thereby severely inconveniencing road users.

Failing to adhere to several deadlines, the NHAI has now set another deadline of December 2018 to complete work on the flyovers at Thokkottu and Pumpwell (earthwork for approach ramps started about a month ago), by diverting traffic onto service roads.