Only 14 out of 78 accident-prone spots in Tamil Nadu made safe

CHENNAI: Four years after the Union ministry of road transport and highways identified 78 accident black spots along the national highways (NH) in the state, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken safety measures for only 14 of them so far. The black spots were identified based on the records of the state police.

The 6,7415 km stretch of NHs accounts for 29.98% of accidents and 36.25% of accidental deaths in Tamil Nadu, according to the state government’s road accident analysis report for 2018.

Going by the accident statistics, experts identified 45 accident black spots in Chennai region and 33 in Madurai region in 2015. Of these, the agency has taken correctional steps for just three spots in Chennai region and 11in Madurai region at a cost of 350 crore, said a senior official of NHAI.

Rectification work includes construction of under passage for pedestrians, vehicles and cattle across the NH, over bridge, access-controlled main carriageway and service road. Such work is carried out as permanent measure to prevent accidents.

Interestingly, the agency did not carry out any rectification work for the first three years after the report was released. “We have been expediting the work to rectify black spots in the last one year. Soon, work would be taken up at all the spots to ensure safety of road users and pedestrians,” NHAI’s Chennai regional officer Pawan Kumar told TOI. He also holds additional charge of Madurai region.

The agency has rectified black spots between Palangarai and Thekkalur along Chengapalli-Coimbatore section of NH 544 at 259crore. A flyover has been constructed in Hosur-Krishnagiri section of NH 7 at a cost of 8crore, said officials.

Black spots along Thanjavur-Trichy sections of NH 67, Theni-Kumuli section of NH 220, Madurai-Kanyakumari section of NH 44, Vikravandi-Kumbakonam section of NH 54C, Dindigul-Samayanallur NH 44 and Thanjavur-Trichy section of NH 67 have been rectified, said an official.

Authorities said work is under way at 40 spots to rectify the black spots. However, delay in land acquisition for construction of flyovers, bridges and carriageways is holding rectification of seven black spots – two in Chennai region and five in Madurai region. “We have floated tenders for nine works in Chennai region. The remaining ongoing work to rectify the black spots are in various stages of completion,” said the official.