NHAI zeroes in on 11 ‘black spots’ on three stretches from Tiruchi

Remedial measures to check accidents to be executed at a cost of ₹80 crore

The move comes in the wake of increasing fatal accidents on these busy highways

Amid recurring accidents on national highways, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified certain “black spots” along different stretches of highways falling under the limits of NHAI, Project Implementation Unit Tiruchi.

Concerned over the accident rate and fatalities, NHAI, Tiruchi, has planned long-term remedial measures along different stretches of national highways coming under its limits to check such instances.

A total number of 11 “black spots” have been identified along the Tiruchi-Chennai, Tiruchi-Dindigul and Tiruchi-Madurai national highways in the wake of recurring accidents at those spots. Five black spots have been identified along the Tiruchi- Chennai national highway in the stretch from Padalur to Ulundurpet. The chosen spots in this stretch include Siruvachur, Veppur, Pali and Avatti.

With respect to Tiruchi - Madurai national highway, the black spots have been identified on the stretches from Manikandam to Alundur; Kaikatti to Soriampatti and near Melur. As for Tiruchi-Dindigul national highway, the black spots have been identified near Manapparai; near Ayyappan koil at Vaiyampati and in the stretch from Cholan Nagar to Chathrapatti, said NHAI authorities.

The national highway stretches from Madurai to Ulundurpet via Tiruchi and Perambalur and from Tiruchi to Dindigul totally covering about 350 km falls under the limits of NHAI, Project Implementation Unit, Tiruchi. NHAI has in all 13 Project Implementation Units in Tamil Nadu at Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Salem, Dindigul, Madurai, Nagercoil, Karur, Coimbatore Villupuram, Chennai, Karaikudi, Krishnagiri and the newly formed one at Kancheepuram.

What is a black spot?

The black spot is a stretch of national highway of about 500 metres in which either five road accidents or 10 fatalities had been reported during the last three calendar years, said national highway authorities. The chosen stretches were identified as black spots following inspection by road safety experts who have suggested long-term remedial measures and temporary steps to curb accidents, said the authorities.

Concerned over the accidents at black spots, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has sanctioned ₹ 80 crore to execute permanent remedial measures at chosen locations, says M. Sankarasubramanian, Deputy General Manager, NHAI, Project Implementation Unit, Tiruchi.

These measures are to come up along the stretch from Padalur to Ulundurpet along the Tiruchi - Chennai national highway. Mr. Sankarasubramanian said Vehicule Under Pass would be constructed at Siruvachur near Perambalur besides at Avatti and Asanur. The construction of three VUPs alone would cost over ₹ 36 crore.

In addition to this, Light Vehicle Under Pass would be constructed at Pali and near Shri Sarada Ashram at a total cost exceeding over ₹15 crore. A slip road near Virudhachalam and a half subway at Veppur would be constructed as part of permanent measure at a cost of ₹ 15.2 crore

Mr. Sankarasubramanian said NHAI would also be laying a service road to an length of 1.6 kilometre at Samayapuram near Tiruchi at a cost of ₹12 crore separately. Apart from these, temporary measures would be put in place at the identified black spots along the Tiruchi - Dindigul and Tiruchi - Madurai national highways for the time being, he added.