Trees, Sharp Curves and Poor Lighting: Three Accidents Expose Safety Risks on New Ahmedabad Road

A shocking instance of civic negligence has surfaced in Ahmedabad’s eastern zone, where the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) laid a brand-new asphalt road around a towering coconut tree right in the middle of the carriageway.

The newly paved stretch, connecting Ramol police station to the SP Ring Road via Ramol village, carries heavy round-the-clock traffic moving towards CTM. Instead of removing or relocating the tree before surfacing the road, contractors simply paved around it, turning a lakh-rupee civic project into an immediate threat to life.

Road Design Raises Safety Concerns

The reported accidents have brought attention to the need for safer road planning in Ahmedabad, where new infrastructure projects are expected to improve traffic movement and reduce travel time.

Trees positioned in the middle of a road can obstruct visibility and create collision risks if the layout does not provide adequate clearance, markings and protective measures. Sharp curves can further increase the danger, especially when motorists encounter them in poorly lit conditions.

Questions Over AMC’s Responsibility

The incidents have raised questions about whether adequate safety assessments were carried out before the road was opened to traffic.

Proper illumination, visible road markings, warning signs and appropriate treatment of curves are essential to reducing accident risks. Civic authorities also need to assess whether trees and other physical obstructions compromise motorists’ visibility or the safe movement of vehicles.

The three reported accidents have renewed concerns over the implementation of road safety standards in Ahmedabad’s infrastructure projects. However, further details about the accident victims, exact locations and the AMC’s response could not be independently confirmed.