NH medians to be barricaded in Mangaluru to curb pedestrian accidents: Police Commissioner

NH medians to be barricaded in Mangaluru to curb pedestrian accidents: Police Commissioner

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 27, 2026: Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH has announced that medians along National Highway stretches within the commissionerate limits will be barricaded to ensure pedestrians cross roads only at designated zebra crossings.

Addressing the National Road Safety Month programme organised by the Mangaluru City Police on Tuesday, the Commissioner said that of the 171 road accident fatalities reported in 2025 within the Mangaluru Commissionerate limits, as many as 67 were pedestrians. During the same period, 249 pedestrians sustained injuries. To curb unsafe road crossings through medians, barricading work has already begun and is currently in progress.

He further noted that 82 two-wheeler riders lost their lives in road accidents last year, while 1,213 people were injured, including 627 two-wheeler riders. In 2025, the police booked 698 cases of drunken driving.

Highlighting a rise in violations such as underage riding and drunken driving leading to fatal accidents, the Commissioner said police personnel have been directed to invoke provisions related to culpable homicide in serious cases. He also expressed concern over attempts to communalise road accidents despite the loss of lives, stating that such actions are unacceptable. He urged motorists to exercise caution and strictly adhere to traffic rules.

KMC Hospital neurosurgeon Dr Arjun Shetty said road accident injuries not only cause physical trauma but also impose severe financial hardship on families. He called for zero tolerance towards drunken driving, emphasising that occasional alcohol consumption cannot be justified. He also suggested stricter norms for the renewal of driving licences for individuals aged 60–65 years and above.

Director and actor Devadas Kapikad appealed to the public to cooperate with the police by following traffic regulations.

District Legal Services Authority Member Secretary Zaibunnisa said the country records an average of 4.5 lakh road accidents annually, resulting in around 1.6 lakh deaths. She pointed out that most accidents are caused by driver negligence and stressed the need for greater awareness of traffic rules.

DCP (Crime and Traffic) Ravi Shankar stated that Karnataka reported 43,130 road accidents in 2025, claiming 10,625 lives. As both National and State highways pass through Mangaluru, the city witnesses a comparatively higher number of accidents. Over the past three years, Mangaluru has recorded an average of 1,020 accidents annually. Fifteen accident-prone black spots have been identified, and corrective measures are being implemented. CCTV cameras have been installed at 28 locations to strengthen traffic enforcement and monitoring.

He added that 2,43,500 traffic violation cases were booked last year, with fines amounting to Rs 9.5 crore collected. Proposals to improve major junctions have been submitted to the Mangaluru City Corporation to ease traffic congestion.

On the occasion, traffic wardens Francis Moras, Hassan, Roshan Roy Sequeira, Boobanna, Ramesh Kavoor, Basheer Haleyangady, and constable Mansida Banu were felicitated. Helmets were also symbolically distributed to riders found travelling without helmets.