Install name boards of villages along highways, urge T.N. residents

Residents of several villages along Nelvoy Kootu Road to Thirumukkudal Road in Kancheepuram district have urged the Highways Department to install nameboards at the entrances of their villages along the highway. They say that without nameboards, it has been difficult for visitors to locate the villages.

Consumer activist S. Ramesh said that villages including Alancheri, Elapakkam, Rettamangalam, Nelveli, Thottanaval, Valathodu, Satasivakkam, and Kunnavakkam do not have nameboards, as they were lost during the widening of the road along which these habitations lie. “Some villages never had nameboards. If they could install bus shelters, like the one near Valathodu Government School, and put up a board, it would be very helpful for students as well. New bus drivers, postmen, and courier delivery personnel would all benefit if nameboards are installed,” he said.

U-turns

Activist Ramesh Babu of Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district said that nameboards along National Highways must be prominent, with lettering that is readable even from a distance, so that motorists do not miss them. “The nameboard for Gummidipoondi is so small that one can easily miss it. It is difficult to turn back on the National Highway, as U-turns are not as frequent as they are on major district roads or regular district roads,” he said.

A retired official of the Highways Department said that nameboards for villages are usually placed on both sides of the road. “Once every five years, all signboards are checked and replaced. Boards go missing due to several factors, including accidents, people pasting posters that damage the stickers, wear and tear, and also during road widening. Local bodies also install signboards,” he said.

Advocate V.S. Suresh recalled how several years ago, in Cuddalore district, when IAS officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi was Collector, nameboards of villages had details including the name of the panchayat president, the population of the village, the number of streets, and the Aathichuvadi. “Some boards also had lines from the Tirukkural with their meaning. The government needs to take steps to ensure all signboards with village names have such details too, and are all uniform in nature. Generally, there is a need for improving signages on all highway roads, be it State or national,” he added.