Patiala: Hours after a fatal accident on Nabha’s Circular Road, residents took it upon themselves to install reflectors on newly built speed-control tables, alleging the administration failed to mark the structures properly and left motorists vulnerable at night.The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when a 32-year-old Malerkotla resident, Yogesh Chabra, died after his car hit a speed table on the Patiala–Nabha main road stretch and rammed into a tree. Locals claimed the speed-control table, recently constructed as part of a series of traffic-calming measures, had no high-visibility markings, making it nearly invisible in low light.
Administrative officials, however, denied that missing reflectors caused the accident. Executive engineer Gaurav Singla attributed the crash to over-speeding and stray cattle. “The car was over-speeding and hit the tree due to stray cattle on the road. The speed-control tables are clearly visible,” he said. Singla added that nine speed tables are being built along the 4.5-km Circular Road, four of which have been completed. Although reflectors had not yet been installed, he said cat’s eye markers were being placed on Saturday as part of the planned work schedule, and “not due to any pressure.”Despite this, residents insisted the lack of visibility was a long-standing concern. They said they had repeatedly demanded reflective signage and warned the administration about the risks. Over the past four months, locals claimed at least six fatalities and several injuries have occurred on the Circular Road due to high speeds, poor lighting and problematic road design. They argued that the tables required standard warning boards, reflective chevrons and consistent street lighting to be effective.“We couldn’t wait for another life to be lost,” said local resident and advocate Reetiqbal Singh. “If the administration won’t install reflectors, the community will.” Rajinder Singh, another resident, noted that while the speed tables had improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheelers, they remained dangerous for motorists without proper visibility markers.DSP Nabha GS Bal said he was aware of the concerns and would “look into the matter” to prevent further accidents.Residents continue to monitor the stretch and have urged the Public Works Department to install permanent, high-intensity reflectors and adequate signage at the earliest.
