In an attempt to reduce vehicular impact in the event of an accident, and also cut down on maintenance costs, the highways department plans to replace medians on Poonamallee High Road and Walltax Road with crash barriers.
Medians along nearly 2.5 km on Walltax Road and three km on Poonamallee High Road will be replaced at an estimated cost of Rs. 4 crore.
Samuel Ebenezer, former vice-president of Indian Roads Congress, says, between crash barriers and medians, the former are a better choice for Indian road conditions.
“Apart from segregating traffic, they are designed to withstand the impact of vehicles and help limit damage to the vehicle as well as the barrier. They will also dissuade pedestrians from jay walking. They are also maintenance-free and have a longer life,” says Mr. Ebenezer.
According to an official in the highways department, work on the crash barriers is expected to begin by year-end. The barriers will have ducts for cables that are usually laid on medians.
The new facility will also reduce spending on planting of saplings and the resultant regular maintenance.
Every year, the department spends close to Rs. 60 lakh on planting new saplings and the recurring maintenance that includes watering, cleaning, replenishing earth and enriching with manure.
“At times, people sleep on the medians and sometimes, fall, especially on Walltax Road. Drunken men are often found lying on the medians. Crash barriers may put an end to such menace,” says the official.
