Ahmedabad road safety has come under scrutiny in Ramol after a coconut tree standing in the middle of a recently built road was linked by local residents to three minor accidents. Traffic police have written to the concerned department seeking the tree’s immediate removal.
The affected stretch runs from near Ramol police station towards Ramol village and connects to the S.P. Ring Road. The road, which links CTM with the Ring Road, was constructed recently by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, according to a report by Divya Bhaskar.
Residents said the newly built road has become hazardous for motorists instead of improving convenience. The road reportedly carries continuous and heavy vehicle movement, increasing the risk created by the obstruction on the carriageway.
The tree is located at a bend, where it is difficult for motorists to see it clearly at night. Residents also said the tree blocks the light from a streetlight, further reducing visibility for vehicles approaching the turn. The combination of the bend, the obstruction and inadequate visibility has raised concerns about the safety of people using the route after dark.
According to local residents cited in the report, three minor accidents have already taken place at the location. They said representations had earlier been submitted to the authorities, but no effective action was taken before the issue came to the attention of traffic police following the reported accidents.
Traffic police have now formally informed the relevant department in writing and asked it to remove the tree from the middle of the road immediately, keeping motorists’ safety in mind. The report does not specify when the removal will take place or which civic department will execute the request.
The incident has placed attention on the coordination required between road construction and the management of existing trees, street lighting and traffic safety. The next official step is the concerned department’s action on the written request from traffic police.
