Bhubaneswar: On Thursday, a high-speed car collided with another vehicle from behind on NH-16 close to Patrapada, resulting in a traffic jam that lasted for an hour on this heavily trafficked highway. Authorities reported that although the vehicle sustained damage, all four passengers inside the car emerged unharmed.

The incident occurred during peak commuting hours on the busy Patrapada stretch, a crucial entry point into the city that experiences a high volume of vehicle movement throughout the day. The crash caused several vehicles to become stranded on the highway, causing inconvenience for commuters until police arrived to tow away the damaged cars and restore normal traffic flow.

This recent accident has reignited discussions about road safety on the Patrapada segment of NH-16, which has seen a series of accidents in recent months. Just two weeks ago, an Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) bus reportedly struck a motorcyclist at nearly the same location, leading to traffic disruptions. Additionally, a hit-and-run incident in July resulted in a fatality, further emphasizing concerns regarding speeding and reckless driving in the area.

Frequent travelers on this corridor have expressed their worries about the increasing number of accidents and have called for authorities to enhance enforcement against speeding, improve traffic monitoring, and implement measures to calm traffic in order to make this dangerous stretch safer for drivers. “I commute on the Patrapada stretch daily, and accidents are happening far too often. Vehicles frequently exceed the speed limit despite heavy traffic and numerous access points. Even minor collisions result in extensive traffic jams, delaying hundreds of commuters. Authorities need to enhance enforcement against speeding and improve monitoring,” commented Sanchit Mohanty, a resident of Khandagiri.