Sandbags kept at Maravaneri-Anaimedu junction in Salem city where the State Highways Department has decided to construct a roundabout.
| Photo Credit: E. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN
Following demands by motorists in Salem for a roundabout at the Maravaneri-Anaimedu junction in the city to prevent accidents, the State Highways Department plans to commence work within a month for the same.
Considering the increase in traffic congestion in the city, particularly near the railway crossings, the State Highways Department constructed road overbridges (ROBs) at the first and second gates in Mulluvadi Gate and Anaimedu and these were opened for the public last year. Meanwhile, motorists demanded a roundabout at Maravaneri-Anaimedu junction to reduce accidents.
S. Shanmugam, a resident of Maravaneri, said vehicles heading to Ammapet, Ponnammapet, and Military Road from Sundar Lodge, Johnsonpet, and Maravaneri used the ROB. As it was the main way to go to Harur, Tirupathur, Attur, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Chennai, hundreds of buses used the ROB every day.
Likewise, buses of the schools and colleges functioning at Ammapet, Ayothiyapattinam, Masinaickenpatti, and Minnampalli used the Anaimedu ROB. Buses and four-wheelers crossing the Maravaneri-Anaimedu junction in high speed were the main reason for accidents at the junction, Mr. Shanmugam added.
The Highways Department had created a roundabout-like structure using sandbags and planned to construct a roundabout soon.
Officials attached to the department said they had received complaints regarding speeding of vehicles on the ROB. Hence, it has decided to construct a roundabout for free movement of all vehicles at 20 km speed limit. There was a provision to construct a roundabout if the passenger car unit (PCU) crossed 3,500 in a junction. A roundabout design was sent for approval for construction at ₹20 lakh and it was expected in a month. Works would commence in March and end in a couple of months, they said.
Published – February 09, 2025 08:26 pm IST