NHAI to install lights on Chennai bypass, NH 4, 5 for safe travel

Replying to a question raised by South Chennai MP Tamilachi Thangapandian in the Lok Sabha, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that as per the report on road accidents in 2018 published by the Ministry, it does not compile data under the category of “accidents and thefts that occur on most of the National Highways due to lack of central median lighting.”

The NHAI regional office received proposals for providing LED lighting along Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-45 at a cost of Rs 3.78 crore. “The Greater Chennai Corporation requested for illumination of Ennore Expressway Phase-II and a proposal of Rs 4.40 crore has been prepared by field unit of NHAI,” he said, adding that the proposal for illumination of entire stretch of Chennai Bypass at a cost of Rs 20.90 crore has been prepared by the field unit based on request of the police department.

“A request for lighting on Maduravoyal – Sriperumbudur section of NH-4 has been received from Deputy Commissioner of Police,” he added.

The city police asked the NHAI to providing lighting along the Chennai Bypass that connects NH 4 (Chennai-Bengaluru), NH 5 (Chennai-Kolkata), NH 205 (Anantapur-Chennai) and NH 45 (Chennai-Tiruchy) considering the poor lighting was deemed to be a major factor in recurring road accidents.

After the police request, the NHAI repaired the uneven road surface and installed solar powered streetlights near the toll plazas at Porur and Surapattu two years ago.

A senior NHAI official said that the proposals for providing lighting along these stretches were in various stages of implementation.

The lighting along the Chennai Bypass and Maduravoyal – Wallajah section of NH-4 was missed somehow in the initial project, the official said, adding that the lighting was incorporated under the toll roads.

“We have proposed to provide lighting along the 32 km long Chennai Bypass. It would be implemented once we got the necessary approvals,” the official said, adding that the Maduravoyal-Wallajah stretch would get the lighting as part of the ongoing six-lane work.