Hyderabad: There is a ray of hope for India’s “village of widows”, which has lost at least 30 male members over the last decade to the deadly highway No. 44.
After a prolonged struggle by the villagers and a legal fight by activists the National Highways Authority of India has announced it will construct a pedestrian under pass on the NH 44 to provide a safe link between the Peddakunta Tanda of Kothur Mandal in Mehbubnagar district and the outside world.
Many villagers have lost their lives while crossing the highway in several deadly accidents since 2005. The tragic story of the village recently came into sharp focus after a Keralite youth made a documentary film on the issue.
Responding to a direction from Hyderabad High Court, the NHAI in New Delhi decided to provide a pedestrian underpass and take various other measures to prevent accidents involving pedestrians.
An opening in the, median of the NH 44, which the villagers were using to cross the road at a high risk, was also being closed after a road safety expert visited the area and made various recommendations.
Rumble strips have also been laid to warn drivers to reduce the speed of their vehicles and warning signs were also being placed for drivers to watch out for pedestrians.
