India's potholes dialogue - Covid on Road

Himanshu Agarwal, COO, Zydex Industries

Potholes are to roads, what a heart attack is to humans. They incapacitate the functioning of the economy as a heart attack does to an individual. Himanshu Agarwal shares more…

With the onset of monsoon every year, we enjoy the rains with chilly/onion pakoras and hot chai and read newspapers with news columns splashing details of lost lives due to potholes on roads every day, reminding us of the previous year's articles of the same time. There is also the familiar case of huge attention, pledges by Government top decision makers, outpouring of citizens' anger, smattering of PILs by vigilante citizens, court interventions etc only to die down with the receding monsoon, and to be repeated again and again.
It is a strange contrast that railway tracks built upon soils and aggregates that carry heavy railway wagons with tonnes of goods and people across the country do not sink or have potholes despite pouring rains, while roads which have bitumen layers to protect, sink routinely.
Of the reported accidents as per MORTH in 2021, 4,12,432 road accidents, of which 1,28,825 on National Highways and Expressways, 96,382 on State Highways and 1,87,225 on other roads. There would be so many more unreported ones as well. Over 1.5 lakh people (mostly <45 years age) lose lives annually on roads.
What's forgotten in this process is the angst, livelihoods and forever broken homes amidst the statistics discussed by the officialdom and the percentage reductions. The annual cost to the economy on account of road accidents is estimated between 0.5-1% of GDP. If India is envisioned to grow from $3.7 trillion to $30 trillion, it is imperative to prevent the daily tragedy occurring on roads, cumulatively equivalent to a Balasore like train tragedy. Major causes of accidents pertain to human error - over speeding, wrong lane overtaking etc, road condition/environment, vehicular condition, issues of non-valid driving licence and non-use of helmets & seat belts are all in the realm of enforceability with an iron hand.
While the efforts made by Government of India are to be appreciated, there is a need for a broader movement. This requires a newer approach of community buy-in and dissemination through brand ambassadors @Government of India, Community & Corporate leaders, Common Citizens etc.
The country deserves to have structurally safe, good riding quality roads to be constructed or re-constructed. The onus is on the asset owners to ensure road surfaces which have good riding quality 365 days of the year. The contractors must offer this as a 'TRUST' for citizens to drive without encountering any potholes.
The key to achieving structurally safe and good riding quality roads:

• Develop 'Vision Zero' by 2030 'Fatality & Accident Free India' with zero fatalities and zero accidents. Involve 1.4 billion Indians to want their kin back home every day.

• Educate 100% of the people and issue licence only if people pass the standard with full understanding of the traffic regulations, stringent mandatory compliances and withdrawal in case of repeated violations (RTA Dubai).

• Give massive thrust to last mile transportation - fully air-conditioned buses at low cost to wean away the individual vehicle owners, two-wheelers from roads. This will not only reduce accidents, but also de-congest roads and requires innovative financial engineering.

• Ensure structural integrity of all highway/city road networks. Make contractors leadership certify that road constructed by them passes the standards. In case of any pre-mature deterioration, on related fatalities/accidents, they will be liable for punitive and financial damages. Simultaneously, in order to propel best-in-class practices, offer incentives for best-in-class roads with extended life.

• Asset managers in governance should strive to have roads networks built under their tutelage of the highest standards.
While we cannot undo the past, let's all work in mission mode to prevent the one million people fatalities in the next seven years (basis past trends). We all owe it to the children.