NH4 to get wider soon

June 19, 2012 08:22 pm | Updated July 12, 2016 04:34 am IST - CHENNAI:

Frequent travellers to Bangalore would vouch for the fact that the NH4 is smooth and fun to drive on. However, accidents do happen, with some of them being quite major.

A.Thyagu, who frequents Bangalore, said the road witnessed a lot of trafficduring the weekends. “It is not very crowded during the week. But at any time of the week motorists have to be careful to avoid accidents,” he said.

S.Purushothaman, of Varadharajapuram, near Poonamallee, said the road was prone to accidents. “Some spots, including Nazrethpet, Thirumazhisai Kootu Road and Chembarampakkam, witness a lot of accidents. At Chembarampakkam signal, there is a big wine shop and many who cross at that point get involved in accidents,” he said.

To prevent accidents, the police must ensure that traffic signals function properly and policemen must be posted at signals. Similarly, a police vehicular check point at Thirumazhisai should be moved back to Chembarampakkam, where it used to function, he added.

“Many vehicles are parked on the road leading to accidents. Also when vehicles are made to stop all of a sudden, motorists coming from behind don't see what is happening in the front. There is not much space on the road. Hence, widening is a must now,” he said.

With the safety of residents along the road in mind, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has recently issued a work order to Essel Group. The order requires the stretch between Poonamallee and Walajahpet to be widened to a 6-lane facility, with 2-lane service roads on either side.

“Effectively in urbanised stretches there would be 10 lanes. We want to ensure that local traffic remains on the service lanes to reduce accidents. In the Poonamallee- Sriperumbudur stretch, service lanes for 30.3 km would come up,” NHAI regional officer I.G.Reddy said.

Widening of this 93-km long stretch of NH4 is being taken up under phase-V of the National Highways Development Project. It would be executed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis for a period of 17 years. The project, costing Rs.1,287.97 crore, would take two-and-half years for completion

Toll plazas will come up at Nemili/ Pennalur, near Sriperumbudur, and at Chennasamudram. One major bridge will come up at Poonamallee. Truck lay bays will come up at three locations. Flyovers are to come up at locations including Poonamallee, Sriperumbudur, Hyundai Motors, SIPCOT, Sunguvachatram and at the start and end of the Kancheepuram bypass.

Vehicular subways are to come up at 15 locations, including Noombal, Poonamallee, Sriperumbudur, Chembarampakkam, Thandalam, Vedal and Siruvedal.

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