With increase in accidents on the Salem – Kochi National Highway 544 claiming more lives, K. Subbarayan, Tiruppur MP, has urged the Union Ministry to construct mini-flyover at five places in Erode district.
In a letter to Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Subbarayan said the 340-km highway in South India connected Salem with Kochi.
The 43-km stretch of the highway fell within Tiruppur Constituency between Chengapalli and Bhavani in Erode district that catered to very high traffic, especially trucks and local vehicles due to its proximity to Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Salem. Heavy traffic led to multiple chock points and increased number of accidents. On an average, 300 accidents were reported in a year in which over 100 lost their lives.
Mini-flyovers were needed at Perundurai – Kanjikovil – Kavindapadi cross road, Perundurai – Pethampalayam – Kavundapadi cross road , Perundurai – Thudupathi – Makkinamkombai cross road, Vijayamangalam – Vavipadi cross road and Vavikadai – Thiruvachi cross road. Also, the service lanes with automatic traffic enforcement systems were needed to prevent accidents, he urged.
The MP said that he had already written to the ministry earlier and had received a communication dated February 6 that the Secretary, Road Transport and Highways had been asked to look into the proposal and submit a report. “I urge the ministry to expedite the process,” he added.