Protests are brewing over the traffic chaos and the increasing number of accidents on the Aroor-Thuravoor stretch of National Highway (NH) 66, caused by the construction of a 12.75-km elevated highway.
Recurring accidents on the stretch have claimed several lives in recent months. K.C. Venugopal, MP, recently wrote to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas seeking their intervention to enhance the safety measures on the road stretch. “Despite various measures, accidents continue to occur frequently, primarily due to a lack of public awareness and inadequate precautionary mechanisms in the construction zone,” Mr. Venugopal said.
The Alappuzha MP urged the Union and State governments to introduce enhanced signage and warning systems, speed regulation and measures for nighttime visibility on the stretch. Mr. Venugopal said that installing illuminated and highly visible warning boards, speed limit indicators, and directional signs at key locations would improve road safety. “To enforce speed limits, speed-monitoring mechanisms, including speed cameras and traffic personnel, should be introduced. Further, to improve nighttime visibility, reflectors, blinking lights and additional lighting in poorly lit areas should be installed,” he said.
Mr. Venugopal also called for public awareness campaigns, opening of temporary service roads and installation of barricades to demarcate the construction zone from active traffic lanes.
During a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport and Tourism held in Delhi on Thursday, he raised concerns about the increasing number of accidents on the Aroor-Thuravoor stretch and the NH development. Mr. Venugopal informed the meeting that the Kerala Water Authority is facing difficulties in water distribution due to the relocation of pipelines and other challenges caused by the NH construction.
In the meeting, he demanded the construction of underpasses along NH 66 at Puthantheruvu near Karunagappally, Payalkungara near Ambalappuzha and S.N. Kavala near Valanjavazhi.
Published – February 28, 2025 06:10 pm IST
