In a city pushing for better connectivity, the Godhani-Takli Road still remains a hazard zone for road users. Despite being widened nearly five years ago, the road continues to pose a daily threat to commuters, pedestrians, and residents as electricity poles remain planted on the carriageway. What should have been an upgrade in infrastructure has instead resulted in chaos and danger, as poor planning and inter-departmental negligence have left citizens vulnerable to accidents. Electric poles standing almost in the middle of the Godhani Takli Road have become a daily menace for motorists, pedestrians, and residents of the area. Residents and local business owners report a constant stream of mishaps, many of them serious.

 

The two-kilometre stretch, under the jurisdiction of the local Nagar Panchayat, was upgraded to improve traffic flow, yet no efforts were made to relocate the power poles that previously stood along the road. These poles now obstruct traffic directly, forcing vehicles, especially two-wheelers, to swerve dangerously or travel on the wrong side of road, often resulting in head-on collisions. The situation worsens during peak hours and at night when visibility drops. Kamlesh Singh, a daily user of the Godhani road, pointed out that the issue lies in poor inter-departmental co-ordination, leaving the citizens to bear the brunt. The road was widened, but no one bothered to plan for the poles. It’s a basic safety measure that was entirely ignored.

 

Now these poles are nothing short of a trap,” he said. Locals echo his concerns, sharing everyday horror stories of close calls and recurring accidents. With poles awkwardly positioned along the vehicle path, two-wheelers are often forced to veer into the opposite lane, leading to frequent collisions A senior shopkeeper located on the stretch said, “Every day, we see bikers suddenly switch lanes to avoid a pole, only to slam into oncoming traffic. The authorities know about it but have done nothing.” During school hours, the stretch becomes even more treacherous. A retired professor, who lives near one such pole, said, “Children walking or cycling through this road are always at risk. It’s heartbreaking and frustrating that officials have not taken any steps despite the obvious danger.”

 

The threat escalates after sunset. Manoj, a garage owner from the area, shared that in the past few months alone, he has witnessed two to three accidents every week. “One night, an e-rickshaw full of passengers rammed straight into a pole. I can’t forget that sight, it was horrifying,” he recalled. Even as the accident tally continues to rise, concerned departments remain locked in a blame game. When contacted, MSEDCL PRO Yogesh Vitankar stated, “We installed the poles long ago, before the road was constructed. It was the responsibility of Public Works Department (PWD) to consider the safety of residents and shift the poles before constructing the road.” This lack of accountability has left residents caught between civic bodies, with neither MSEDCL, the Public Works Department, nor the Nagar Panchayat taking ownership of the issue. While officials continue to pass the buck, the power poles remain rooted in place while commuters risk their lives every single day. What was envisioned as a symbol of rural development now stands as a stark reminder of how infrastructure without planning can endanger the very people it aims to serve.