Ramgarh: Two FIRs have been registered against National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials over the alleged faulty construction of a concrete sidewall along NH-33 in Chutupalu Valley.The complainants alleged that the wall leaves no space for vehicles to pull over during emergencies and has contributed to fatal accidents on the stretch.The cases were lodged at Ramgarh police station following complaints filed by Jaywanti Tirkey, a resident of Angara in Ranchi district, and Firoz Ansari. Both lost their spouses in separate accidents in the valley.Tirkey said her husband, a railway employee, was travelling from Ranchi to Ramgarh on a motorcycle on Sept 4 when a speeding trailer hit him from behind. She alleged that he could not move off the road because of the sidewall and died on the spot.In his complaint, Ansari said a speeding truck hit his car in the valley on Sept 6. He alleged that the sidewall left him with no space to steer the vehicle to safety. His wife, Sara Tabsum, was killed, while five other members of the family were injured.Residents have long demanded that gaps be created in the nearly 4km-long wall and emergency spaces be built along the accident-prone stretch.NHAI officials said a new highway alignment through Chutupalu Valley was being planned. NHAI project director Vijay Kumar said overspeeding by heavy vehicles was a major cause of accidents in the area.He said the proposed realignment was expected to offer a long-term solution to the valley’s congestion and road safety problems.
