Yanaimalai-Othakadai junction turns into accident hotspot, residents seek overpass

Madurai: Residents and activists have demanded urgent safety measures at the Yanaimalai-Othakadai junction on the Madurai-Trichy-Chennai National Highway, citing frequent fatal accidents and seeking construction of an overpass to prevent further deaths.The junction, located near the Madurai Agricultural College, connects Othakadai, Pandi Kovil and the Madurai-Trichy-Chennai National Highway. Residents said the absence of speed control measures and the mixing of high-speed highway traffic with local vehicles have made the stretch dangerous.According to police records, more than 40 accidents have been reported at the junction in the last three years. “People unfamiliar with the chaotic traffic movement at this junction often become victims, especially at night,” said Srinivasan, a resident.Another resident, Draviya Pandian, said the lack of basic traffic management measures remained a major concern. “Thousands of vehicles pass through this junction every day, but there is no signal or dedicated traffic police presence. We have submitted several petitions over the years, but no concrete action has been taken,” he said.Residents have urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government to construct an overpass to separate highway traffic from local commuters.An NHAI official told TOI that a Vehicular Underpass (VUP) at the Yanaimalai-Othakadai junction is currently under consideration.