A coordinated drive by the state highways department and district police has successfully brought down the number of accidents along the heavily used Fatima College to Samayanallur corridor in Madurai. This vital 10-kilometre, four-lane state highway connects Madurai to Dindigul, Salem, Bengaluru, and southern districts like Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram.
From Dangerous Corridor to Safer Passage
For years, the stretch serving suburbs like Vilangudi, Paravai, and Samayanallur was notorious for accidents, plagued by dense traffic and unsafe median openings. Official traffic police data paints a grim historical picture: a total of 399 accidents occurred between 2018 and 2024, with 104 proving fatal. Areas just outside the city limits on the same road saw 88 accidents, including 22 fatal ones.
The turning point came following directives from the Madras High Court, prompting the State Highways Department to launch a series of targeted interventions. A highways official detailed the measures: unwanted median openings were sealed, and speed breakers were installed ahead of the remaining medians. The department also erected warning boards for these breakers and accident-prone zones, installed road blinkers, and carried out other safety modifications. "At present, the corporation is installing streetlights along the stretch," the official added.
Police Enforcement and Infrastructure Push
Madurai District Superintendent of Police, B K Arvind, confirmed the positive trend, attributing the dip in accident rates over the past year to the joint efforts of both departments. "Based on police inputs, accident control measures were implemented, and this has yielded results," he stated. The police bolstered these infrastructure changes with intensified enforcement, which included sensitising commuters to safe driving, increasing patrols, and conducting awareness programmes.
The data for 2025 shows a promising decline. Only 16 accidents were reported on the stretch last year, comprising seven fatal and nine non-fatal incidents. A senior traffic police official noted that accident cases along the corridor had reduced by approximately 15%, a direct result of the sustained enforcement and infrastructure upgrades.
Future Relief: The Vaigai River Alternative Road
Looking to further decongest the area, especially near Fatima College, authorities are working on a long-term solution. After a feasibility study, the highways department has proposed an alternative 8-kilometre, two-lane road running along the northern bank of the Vaigai River. This new route will connect from near the Kamarajar Bridge in Arapalayam to Samayanallur on the national highway.
The project is advancing rapidly and is expected to be completed by February 2026, according to the official. This new artery is anticipated to siphon off a significant portion of traffic, easing pressure on the main corridor and contributing to long-term safety and smoother travel for commuters and interstate vehicles alike.
