A truck caught fire atop Palasuni bridge during Wednesday evening rush hour, leading to severe traffic congestion along NH-16 and drawing renewed attention to the accident-prone stretch.
Incident Details
The fire triggered massive traffic congestion on both carriageways for over an hour, with vehicles crawling from Vani Vihar towards Hanspal. Hundreds of commuters were stranded on the stretch. Traffic police diverted vehicles for emergency operations as flames engulfed the truck, though no casualties were reported.
“We literally moved at a snail’s pace. To cover a mere 500 metres, it took half an hour,” said Hanspal resident Kartika Ojha.
Infrastructure Concerns
The Palasuni section of NH-16 is a narrow four-lane stretch, and any disturbance creates a ripple effect on the entire highway running through the city. The six-lane NH-16 narrows to four lanes at Palasuni, causing congestion and safety issues for commuters.
Palasuni has long been categorised as a black spot, witnessing a series of fatal accidents. Residents and commuters say Wednesday’s incident revived fear. “This is not an isolated incident. Every few weeks, something happens here — an accident, oil spill, breakdown or congestion that puts lives at risk. People crossing or even stopping here after dark remain in constant fear,” said Debashis Dutta, a local shopkeeper.
Previous Incidents
This fire comes months after repeated accidents made headlines at Palasuni earlier this year. In January, a borewell truck carrying hydraulic oil spilled hundreds of litres of oil on the highway, forcing authorities to shut the stretch for nearly four hours. On another occasion, two cars collided at high speed, with one vehicle climbing over the other and remaining precariously tilted for nearly an hour.
Expert Analysis
According to experts, the mix of heavy vehicles, high speeds, inadequate lane discipline, and frequent pedestrian crossings continues to make Palasuni one of the most vulnerable sites despite infrastructure upgrades. “Palasuni has multiple conflict points such as merging traffic, service roads, pedestrian movement and heavy trucks entering the city. Without sustained traffic calming and strict enforcement, accidents will continue,” said Syed Maqbool Ali, a road safety expert.
NHAI Response
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said several corrective measures are underway, including operationalisation of a foot overbridge for pedestrians and ongoing widening of the NH-16 Palasuni stretch from four to six lanes. “We have taken immediate action during every incident to prevent further damage or accidents. Long-term infrastructure upgrades are in progress to improve traffic flow and safety,” said an NHAI spokesperson.
