Blinkers, barricades dot Garuda Varadhi flyover after two fatal accidents

The police department initiated several safety measures on the elevated express corridor ‘Garuda Varadhi’ in Tirupati in the wake of two back-to-back accidents witnessed on the flyover recently.

As both the accidents were attributed to high speed and reckless driving, the department got down to address the issues by arranging barricades on the road, fixing blinkers and affixing radium lights at every curve on the walls.

It may be recalled that two Engineering students fell from the top of the flyover to the road beneath, along with their motorcycle, leading to their sudden death. In less than a week’s time, another person riding his two-wheeler at high speed rammed into the side wall and died on the spot.

The two incidents that happened in quick succession shocked the local residents, as well as the visiting pilgrims, as the corridor is specifically meant to provide a faster exit to the Tirumala-bound devotees by helping them avoid the local traffic.

Collector S. Venkateswar, Tirupati Municipal Corporation (TMC) Commissioner N. Mourya and Superintendent of Police (SP) L. Subbarayudu jointly initiated an action plan to make the flyover accident-proof.

Mr. Subbarayudu inspected the fool-proof arrangements made on the flyover, especially at the accident-prone curve at Lakshmipuram junction recently. He asked the motorists not to compromise on safety aspects, suggesting them to wear helmets and maintain an average speed.