With an aim to curb pedestrian-motorist conflicts and chaotic traffic at junctions, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is considering a plan to elevate roads at intersections in some of its new projects.
“Though it is not possible to elevate all the roads, we are studying the possibility of elevating the roads at intersections so that local traffic will remain at grade. They need not get on the main carriageway and need not cut across the road, thus minimising any chances of colliding with speeding vehicles on the highway,” said a source in the NHAI.
The proposal would increase the cost of the project but keep humans and animals safe, the source added. The NHAI is looking at such a possibility in projects including Karur-Coimbatore (6-laning), Dindigul-Coimbatore (4-laning), Mettupalayam-Kangeyapalayam (4-laning).
“We will provide vehicular or pedestrian subways according to local needs,” he added.
Tamil Nadu’s National Highways roads have a total length of more than 4,000 km. In 2011, a total of 8,591 accidents occurred on the National Highways, of which 1,693 were fatal. In 2015, the number of accidents rose to 9,098, while the number of fatalities came down to 1,418.
‘Speed limits ignored’The official attributed the rise in accidents to neglecting speed limits and added that the State government has been asked to take action against those violating rules.
Sources in the State police said that steps were being taken to prevent accidents. “Though the number of accidents has increased, when you compare the growth in vehicular population, the accidents are coming down. We are closely monitoring the situation and studying each and every accident spot,” said a source.
Accidents also happen on badly maintained stretches such as Poonamallee–Maduravoyal-Ranipet stretch on the Chennai-Bangalore highway, Chennai-Bypass and Chennai-Tirupathi road. “There is no system in place where motorists can register their complaints. Even if you write to NHAI or call their Chennai office, the officials always say that there are problems with the concessionaires. This is an excuse a common man does not want to hear,” said Rohit Achar, who frequently travels by road to Bengaluru.
