NH 44 linking Karur, Dindigul & Madurai, NH 785's Chettikulam–Natham stretch to get safety makeover; NHAI plans Rs 635-crore upgrade

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has drawn up a Rs 635-crore plan to improve road safety at 25 accident-prone locations along National Highways 44 and 785 in southern Tamil Nadu. The project will focus on redesigning dangerous junctions, constructing underpasses, improving lighting and providing safer access for local traffic. The proposed engineering upgrades aim to reduce collisions at points where vehicles entering from village roads intersect with fast-moving traffic on the highways. The stretches carry a mix of long-distance passenger vehicles, freight traffic and local commuters.

According to project tender documents cited by TOI, the project will cover 23 locations between Karur, Dindigul, Madurai and Kayathar along NH-44, and two locations on the Chettikulam-Natham stretch of NH-785.

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NHAI Rs 635 crore project: 16 vehicular underpasses planned

One of the major components of the project is the construction of 16 vehicular underpasses to allow local traffic to cross the highways without directly interacting with high-speed vehicles.

These underpasses are proposed at several junctions, including Pallapatti Pirivu, Koothiyarkundu, Kappalur SIDCO, Pullalakottai and Paraipatti.

Another underpass is planned at Thammanampatty-Konnampatty Pirivu to facilitate the movement of pedestrians and cattle.

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The project also proposes three foot-overbridges equipped with staircases and lifts. These will be developed near educational institutions and the PRC depot along the Madurai-Kayathar stretch to make crossing safer for pedestrians.

NH-44 and NH-785 safety upgrades: Service roads, streetlights and redesigned junctions

The proposed improvements will also address the risks associated with poorly designed intersections and inadequate visibility.

NHAI plans to redesign T-junctions, Y-junctions and four-way intersections by modifying turning arrangements, median openings and approach roads.

Dedicated lanes will be developed for vehicles slowing down to turn or accelerating while entering the highway. Traffic islands will also be introduced at selected locations to reduce conflicts between local and highway traffic.

A senior NHAI official said the measures were intended to improve safety at vulnerable junctions.

“Dedicated lanes for vehicles slowing to turn or accelerate onto the highway, along with traffic islands, are intended to prevent collisions between traffic and vehicles entering village roads,” the official said.

The project also includes approximately 35.6 km of service roads and 2.1 km of slip roads. These are expected to help residents, workers and commercial vehicles access nearby settlements without repeatedly entering the main highway.

LED streetlights and high-mast lighting systems are also proposed at junctions where poor visibility increases the risk of accidents, particularly at night.

A Madurai commuter, Manickam, pointed to the problem of inadequate lighting, saying, “Many areas are completely without streetlights.”

NH-44 road safety project includes bridge and drainage improvements

Apart from junction redesign and pedestrian infrastructure, the Rs 635-crore package includes several other engineering works.

These include:

• Construction of a 236-metre bridge over the Vaippar river near Sattur.
• Widening of existing bridges and culverts.
• Construction of concrete roadside drains.
• Installation of crash barriers at vulnerable stretches.
• Improved reflective traffic signs.
• Development of safer highway access points.

The proposed works are intended to address road safety concerns through physical infrastructure improvements.

However, the tender does not include an advanced traffic management system for the highway corridor, which is commonly incorporated into several new highway projects.

“The objective was to address identified accident risks through structural improvements and safer access roads,” the senior NHAI official said.

NHAI tender for Tamil Nadu highway project: Check deadline and timeline

NHAI floated an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender for the project in August. The deadline for submission of bids is November 17.

According to the tender conditions, the selected contractor will have 730 days to complete the work from the commencement date.

The project package also includes the construction of a four-storey combined regional and project implementation office in Madurai. The proposed building will have a built-up area of around 20,000 square feet.