NHAI Gets One-Month Deadline to Fix Safety Lapses on Thrissur Highways
NHAI must rectify safety deficiencies on NH 66 and NH 544 in Thrissur within a month, a review meeting chaired by Minister O.J. Janeesh has directed.
Safety deficiencies flagged along National Highways 66 and 544 in Thrissur district will be corrected within a month, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has told a review meeting convened in the wake of the fatal Kaipamangalam accident that killed eight people.
The meeting, chaired by Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh, reviewed the progress of construction, maintenance, upgrading and safety work on the two highways. Among the issues raised were safety lapses, waterlogging and the problems pedestrians face on these stretches.
NHAI project directors said the shortcomings identified during a joint inspection by the police, the Motor Vehicles department, local bodies and the authority itself would be set right within the deadline.
Drainage and waterlogging
The meeting called for urgent steps to tackle drainage and waterlogging. A joint team of local body engineers, NHAI representatives and PWD Roads officials will inspect the affected locations and prepare estimates. These will be vetted by the district panchayat executive engineer before being placed before the district administration.
At stretches where construction or traffic diversion is under way, warning boards and lighting are to be installed immediately. The NHAI said streetlights and other lighting arrangements would be provided within two weeks. The meeting also recommended high-intensity warning signs that can be seen from a distance, along with signboards showing local place names.
Police representatives noted that low-quality reflective stickers were being used at some diversion points instead of high-grade-intensity material.
Toll plaza and foot overbridges
A field inspection will be carried out at the Paliyekkara toll plaza after complaints of long queues. Police, NHAI, district administration and contractor representatives will jointly inspect the site.
The NHAI informed the meeting that 10 foot overbridges have been sanctioned on NH 66. The bridges at Vadanappally and Thalikulam are complete, while work is in progress at Valapad, Engandiyur and Edakkazhiyur. The remaining five are yet to be taken up. The authority said the ongoing works would be finished by October 15.
A joint team of the police, Motor Vehicles department, Revenue department and NHAI will identify suitable locations for parking heavy vehicles, including trucks and lorries, within a week.
The Minister directed the police and the RTO to act sternly against traffic violations and asked the NHAI to submit a report laying out clear timelines for the various works.