With no streetlights at several junctions, certain stretches of NH-44 and NH-785 in southern Tamil Nadu become hazardous. “We are left in the dark at several junctions,” says Manickam, a commuter from Madurai, who lives near the highway. Manickam is one of those who has to hazard a merge with faster highway traffic almost every day on his way to work. “It’s risky as there are trucks, buses and cars zipping down the highway,” he says.NHAI now plans to make these crossings safer through a ₹635-crore project covering 25 accident-prone locations along NH-44 and NH-785. The measures include 16 vehicular underpasses, 35.6km of service roads, redesigned junctions and better lighting.The project covers 23 locations between Karur, Dindigul, Madurai and Kayathar on NH-44 and two on the Chettikulam–Natham stretch of NH-785. These four-lane roads link industrial areas, towns and villages, besides carrying long-distance freight and passenger vehicles. A separate underpass at Thammanampatty–Konnampatty Pirivu will provide passage for pedestrians and cattle, according to tender documents.Besides this, three foot-overbridges equipped with staircases and lifts are planned near educational institutions and the PRC depot on the Madurai–Kayathar section.NHAI floated the engineering, procurement and construction tender in Aug, with bids scheduled to close on November 17. The contract allows 730 days for execution after commencement.NHAI also proposes to redesign T, Y and four-way intersections, correcting turning arrangements, median openings and approach geometry. “Dedicated lanes for vehicles slowing to turn or accelerating onto the highway, along with traffic islands, are intended to prevent collisions between through traffic and vehicles entering from village roads,” says a senior NHAI official. A four-storey combined regional and project implementation office in Madurai, with 20,000sqft of built-up space is also on the cards.About 35.6km of service roads will allow residents, workers and commercial traffic to travel between neighbouring settlements without repeatedly entering the highway. Another 2.1km of slip roads will improve access at selected junctions. LED streetlights and high-mast lamps are proposed near crossings where visibility is a concern.Other works include a 236m bridge over the Vaippar near Sattur, widening of existing bridges and culverts, concrete roadside drains, crash barriers and reflective traffic signs.However, the tender doesn’t list an advanced traffic management system for the highway corridor, which is a common feature in new projects. “The objective was to address identified accident risks through structural improvements and safer access roads,” says the official.
