An action plan will be prepared for controlling road accidents in the Neryamangalam-Munnar stretch on the Kochi-Madurai national highway. This was decided at the meeting of the national highway Jagrata Samithi attended by Munnar DySp P.V. Chacko and Adimaly grama panchayat president Ammini Raghavan at Adimaly recently.
The meeting evaluated that there was an increase in road accidents in the stretch due to narrow curves, no protection walls and poor conditions of the road. Lack of familiarity with the road, rash driving and long working hours of drivers without rest also cause accidents, said the speakers at the meeting. It was also decided that an action plan would be prepared for immediate implementation. The proposals at the meeting include the setting up of two road awareness offices to give advance information on accident-prone areas to drivers at Aram Mile and Iruttukanam manned by a police constable each and two volunteers.
Stretch to be studied
As part of the preparation of the action plan, the DySP and the grama panchayat president will travel the entire stretch to study the areas highly prone to road accidents. A report will be submitted to the National Highway Authority on the reasons for the recurrence of road accidents and a top level meeting will be convened to take action in this regard.
The DySP said highway patrolling will be strengthened and strict action will be taken against drivers for over speeding.
Those who attended the meeting also demanded strict action against drunk-driving and driving without a valid licence. It was also suggested to seek the help of the forest department to remove trees which posed a threat to road traffic in the particular stretch. The road is being used by tourists and pilgrims in addition to vehicles that come from other States.
