Police data has revealed a grim statistic for a critical highway section in Tamil Nadu. The 27-kilometer stretch from Neelambur to Madukkarai on the Salem-Kochi National Highway witnesses an alarming average of 100 fatal accidents every year. This dangerous segment, a vital link for thousands of vehicles traveling between Kerala, Chennai, and Bengaluru, has become a notorious death trap due to its outdated design.
The Bottleneck of Death: Why This Stretch is So Dangerous
The problem lies in a severe infrastructure mismatch. The highway expands to six lanes before Neelambur and after Madukkarai. However, the 27km section in between remains a constricted two-lane road, creating a sudden and hazardous bottleneck. Compounding the danger are several critical factors:
- Complete absence of service roads and underpasses.
- Very poor visibility along the stretch.
- Numerous intersections where local traffic merges with high-speed highway traffic.
This deadly combination of high traffic volume, sudden lane reduction, and unsafe crossings has led to the consistently high accident fatality rate over the past few years.
A Rs 1,800 Crore Lifeline: NHAI's Expansion Blueprint
There is now a significant hope for change. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to transform this perilous corridor. The ambitious plan, with an estimated cost of around Rs 1,800 crores, has been sent to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for approval.
An NHAI official outlined the major upgrades proposed in the DPR:
The existing two-lane road will be expanded into a six-lane highway, seamlessly matching the width of the connecting sections. Service roads will be constructed on both sides to segregate local traffic. To eliminate risky at-grade crossings, underpasses will be built at 13 key locations frequently used by the public to cross the bypass.
Furthermore, two new flyovers are planned at the crucial Trichy Road and Pollachi Road junctions. The existing railway overbridges near Irugur and Chettipalayam will also be widened to six lanes, with provisions for U-turns for vehicles on the service road.
Expert Calls for Complete Access Control
While the NHAI plan is welcomed, some experts advocate for even stricter measures. J Sathish, a core committee member of Coimbatore NXT, emphasizes that the number of accidents and travel time would drastically reduce if the 27km stretch had no intersections at all.
He also pointed to a proposed new entry to the Coimbatore International Airport along this stretch. "The authorities should plan to construct a flyover at the place where the new airport entry is planned," Sathish suggested, highlighting the need for forward-thinking, integrated planning.
The official confirmed that the land required for this massive expansion was already acquired during the construction of the current two-lane road, which could potentially expedite the project once approval is granted. For the residents of Coimbatore and the thousands of daily commuters, this Rs 1,800 crore project represents a long-awaited chance to turn a highway of tragedy into a safe and efficient corridor.
