NHAI set to rectify 18 accident-prone spots

CHENNAI: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon take up rectification work at18 accident-prone spots in the city’s suburbs at an estimated cost of Rs 2.2 crore.

The work includes installation of high-mast lights, speed breakers, solar-powered LED lights, relaying roads and fixing cautionary signs.

Two different tenders have been floated to carry out these works at Chennai-Trichy and Chennai-Bengaluru Highway. Bids will be opened on Saturday. Three and six-month deadlines have been set respectively for contractor to finish the work.

In the first package, 14 accident blackspots along National Highway-45 were identified for carrying out remedial measures. This includes road junctions near Aaryas Hotel in Tindivanam, Pazhani Arch in Acharappakkam and Madurantakam . These 500-metre stretches have reported at least half a dozen fatal road accident deaths every year and were declared as accident ‘blackspots’ by NHAI two years ago.

“Before making permanent changes in terms of road realignment, temporary remedial measures will be taken up at these 14 blackspots. So first, all kerb stones on the sides will be removed and cautionary boards will be placed,” said a senior official from NHAI’s Chennai regional office. Portions of road will be relaid with bituminous concrete or macadam mix depending upon the need, the official added.

Commenting on it, G Ganesh from Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association, who works from Singaperumalkoil on NH-45, said sudden dark patches on the highways due to insufficient lighting were the main reason for most accidents.

Motorists get confused at curves and tend to cross over lanes inadvertently. So they get hit from the behind. The present lights don’t work most of the time. Therefore it was better to replace lights along the main carriageway, he added.

At Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH-4), permanent rectification work is to be taken up at Nazarathpet and Thandalam junctions. Rumble strips will be laid on road shoulders and at junctions to reduce runoff collisions. These strips generate noise and vibrations when vehicles are driven over them. Drowsy drivers get alerted when they leave the roadway or cross important intersections, said the NHAI official.