Vadodara: The city's emergency services face significant challenges as a result of illegal encroachment and traffic congestion around the Vadodara Corporation headquarters at Khanderao Market. A fire engine responding to an emergency call recently got stuck twice due to fruit traders crowding the main road.
Despite frequent incidents like this, the corporation's administration has failed to address the issue effectively. While the municipal system is responsible for preventing encroachment throughout the city, it has been unable to remove temporary encroachments around its own headquarters. Officials' efforts against the fruit and flower traders have so far been short-lived, as the vendors quickly return to their previous locations.
Pedestrians and drivers alike face daily difficulties due to the encroachments. Emergency vehicles often get stuck in traffic jams caused by these obstructions. The administration and the Municipal Corporation's pressure branch have yet to find a permanent solution to the problem.
In Monday's incident, a fire engine dispatched from Dandiya Bazar Fire Station to Goyagate got stuck due to trucks and rickshaws parked on the main road beside the corporation building. Despite sounding the siren repeatedly, the fire engine was only able to move 25 to 30 feet before getting stuck again.
In emergency situations, every minute counts, and the fire brigade's drivers are often faced with the difficult decision of causing an accident or delaying their response. Traffic jams and careless drivers using hands-free devices further exacerbate the issue, as they frequently fail to hear the fire engine's siren until it is too close, forcing the emergency vehicle to brake suddenly and repeatedly sound the siren. These factors contribute to delays in reaching the scene of an incident, potentially putting lives at risk.
