Another life lost as electricity poles remain in middle of Peshawar road

PESHAWAR: Despite changes in governments and the passage of more than three years, electricity poles standing in the middle of Dalazak Road in Peshawar continue to pose a serious threat to commuters, with another fatal accident highlighting the authorities’ failure to address the long-standing safety hazard.

Dalazak Road is one of Peshawar’s busiest dual carriageways, serving thousands of students, residents and daily commuters because of the educational institutions, colleges and universities located along the route. Although the road has been widened, several electricity poles remain dangerously positioned in the middle of the carriageway.

According to local residents, a person lost their life on Sunday after colliding with one of these poles. Several other people have reportedly been injured or killed in similar accidents over the years.

Residents say the danger becomes particularly severe at night when poor visibility makes it difficult for motorcyclists and other drivers to spot the poles in time.

“The road has been widened, but the electricity poles are still standing in the middle. At night, a motorcyclist cannot see them properly and crashes into them. Governments have installed inauguration plaques, but nobody has removed these death traps,” local citizens complained.

The situation is further complicated by incomplete development work along Dalazak Road. The section between Ring Road and Faqirabad was reportedly excavated for drainage work, but the project remains unfinished. Meanwhile, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and the construction department are reportedly shifting responsibility for relocating the poles, while questions have also been raised over the contractor’s absence and lack of monitoring.

According to Minute Mirror’s previous reporting, the same issue was highlighted on July 21, 2023, under the headline “Peshawar Dalazak Road Construction Project: Electricity Poles in the Middle of the Road Remain Standing.” More than three years later, the reported safety concern remains unresolved.

Following the latest fatal accident, citizens have demanded a transparent investigation and immediate intervention by the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Commissioner Peshawar and the PESCO chief.

They have called for all electricity poles along Dalazak Road and the Ring Road service road to be shifted to the roadside within 72 hours. They have also demanded the immediate installation of reflectors and warning tapes until the relocation work is completed.

Residents have warned that they will block the road in protest if the authorities fail to take immediate action, stressing that commuters should not continue paying with their lives for an unresolved infrastructure problem.