Rather sufficient space for lane merging they abruptly merged it. Our contractors and NHAI not following road design is pathetic. For one road it is fine but now all projects there is some design flaw.
Spoke with a friend who is employed with a construction company regarding this.
As per him, this kind of design is brought in specifically keeping in mind the Indian driving habits. Most of the drivers, specifically of pvt owned vehicles, are confused drivers. Whenever there is such an intersection or diversion in road, people tend to stop their vehicle after crossing it and decide on whether to take the straight route or take any shortcut if there is any on that diversion. On top of it, if the left hand diversion is just 500 mtrs or 1 km away, they have this tendency to drive on wrong side to approach it rather then driving on the Right hand side road and take a detour. This kind of ramp infact brings down a lot of accidents waiting to happen.
2nd reason is because of the people residing nearby. We all know how land acquisition for such projects work in India. People around the area have a habit of opening up eateries or small shops right at places like this. The vehicle riders too take it as a habit to compulsively stop vehicles right at point like these. So ramp like these do act as temporary parking space.
3rd reason is again another time and money saving tricks of ours. Lets say I have to go to a town X for which the two lane road starts from the diversion. 7 out of 10 times, I would ride a vehicle which have to go to town Y instead. And I would get down right at the diversion to cross over. In those case also, these kind of ramp do act as stopping bay for public vehicles.
Could this be stop? Yes. Just make stringent law and force people to follow it. But we all know what will happen in that case.
