Motorists oppose new railway fence near Trichy-Karur NH

Trichy: Even as road safety activists are pursuing legal means to widen the Trichy-Karur National Highway (NH), one of the top 100 accident prone highways in the state, Southern Railway (Salem division) is constructing a new fence between the railway tracks and the highway, a few feet away from the carriageway.

Fearing safety, commuters sought suspension of work for the new fence.Trichy-Karur NH sandwiched between railway tracks and Cauvery river is a narrow two-lane road had recorded at least 40 fatal accidents per year. A 2-km stretch of the highway that runs parallel to the Trichy-Karur railway tracks between Murungapettai and Palur is a stretch where vehicles commuting towards Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Karur districts often overspeed.

The stretch is controlled by the state highways department.In addition to the existing iron fence, the Salem rail division has begun work for a new fence to prevent cattle and human runover incidents . “If the new fence is allowed, fatal accidents will increase. Two-wheeler riders will be left without space to give space for heavy vehicles to overtake them safely,” K Thangaraj, a retired Air Force officer said. As an alternative, the railways could increase the height of the existing iron fence, he added.

State highways said they are not aware of the development. “We will check and take necessary measures,” a senior highways official said. Salem railway division sources said the fencing is necessary to secure railway properties and prevent incidents affecting the movement of trains.