TIRUCHI
Amid recurring accidents on the Palpannai - Thuvakudi stretch along the busy Tiruchi - Thanjavur National Highway, the National Institute of Technology Tiruchi (NIT-T) is almost through with its scientific study to analyse causes and recommend remedial measures.
A group of students of the institution's Civil Engineering Department had carried out the study that was commissioned on a request made by the Tiruchi rural police authorities under whose jurisdiction a substantial portion of the accident prone Palpannai-Thuvakudi stretch falls.
The nearly 14.5 kilometre stretch from Palpannai to Thuvakudi has been witness to several road accidents, most of them fatal, at different locations, causing huge concern to the road users and the law-enforcing authorities.
The study had been conducted against the backdrop of persistent demands from road users and general public for laying a service road from Palpannai to Thuvakudi to ensure safety of motorists - an issue yet to be addressed due to apparent delay in acquisition of land.
Dotted with proliferating residential localities, commercial establishments and educational institutes adjoining it, the Palpannai-Thuvakudi stretch is abuzz with vehicular movements and has virtually turned out to be a dangerous section for motorists and pedestrians in the absence of a service road. Notwithstanding protests in different forms resorted to by residents staying along the stretch demanding the laying of a service road, the issue has remained unsolved till date.
The detailed scientific study carried out by a group of 16 NIT students factored in the volume of vehicular density, potential hazardous locations and speed of the vehicles, says Samson Mathew, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, NIT who is heading the exercise.
The study was done at different intervals of time to determine the pattern of vehicle movement - both passenger and freight - so as to ascertain the cause of accidents and suggest remedial measures accordingly, Dr. Samson Mathew said.
Concerned over recurring road accidents, the Tiruchi Rural Police had a few months ago identified certain "black spot" locations along the Palpannai- Thuvakudi road stretch. Four such spots were narrowed down by the law enforcers in the wake of accidents getting reported at those locations. The locations identified were Kattur Oil Mill to Manjithdal bridge; Tiruverumbur over bridge to ITI; Irrigation Management Training Institute to Thuvakudi bus stop and in the stretch close to Anna Arch near Thuvakudi, say police sources.
Dr. Samson Mathew said a final shape was being given to the study which was on the verge of completion. The study narrowed down on four main accident-prone spots : SIT, Oil Mill, BHEL roundabout and near Anna Valaivu at Thuvakudi. The intersection opposite to SIT was also found to be a major hazardous location during the course of study. The study would offer detailed remedial measures which was under compilation, said Dr. Mathew, adding that detailed analysis would be handed over in a month's time to the police as well as to the highway authorities.
Police statistics reveal that the highway stretch falling under the Tiruchi rural police jurisdiction witnessed 138 accident cases out of which 27 turned out to be fatal in 2018. Casualty figures were 30, while 167 others sustained injuries. In the current year up to May, a total number of 23 accidents were reported of which four were fatal with equal number of casualties.
Local residents say the Palpannai - Thuvakudi stretch has turned out to be most dangerous one in Tiruchi if the number of deaths caused by road accidents is any indication. The openings at SIT, Oil Mill, Kattur and Amman Nagar are potential accident spots where motorists would have to exercise extreme caution given the speed of the vehicles, says S. Sakthivel, organiser, Federation for Retrieval of Tiruchi- Palpannai - Thuvakudi Service Road.