NHAI starts work to raise height of retaining walls on bridges along Chennai-Bengaluru NH

Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi at the accident spot on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started the work to increase the height of the retaining wall of road over bridges and elevated corridors on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH 44) between Walajah toll gate in Ranipet and Krishnagiri to prevent road-users and pedestrians from accidentally falling off them.

The move comes after a 71-year-old rider fell off the bridge near the Collectorate a week ago after he lost control of his two-wheeler upon hitting the bridge’s retaining wall. He died on the spot.

As per the plan, the total height of retaining walls will be increased to five feet. Steel railings would be erected to prevent accidents, and reflectors, blinkers and road markings would be ensured, said officials.

Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi, who was on her way to carry out inspections in the district, stopped at the accident spot and directed officials of the NHAI to take adequate safety measures on the route. “We have started the work to increase the total height of the retaining walls. [Work on] a few bridges in Tirupattur district has been completed, and work on bridges in Vellore is under way,” an official told The Hindu. Officials further said that at present, the highway between Krishnagiri and Walajapet (Ranipet district) – a distance of 148 km – was maintained by L&T on behalf of the NHAI on a 30-year agreement.

Complete relaying

At present, a complete relaying of the stretch has been undertaken for the past few weeks. The work includes relay of bitumen carriageway to a height of 40mm, replacement of damaged steel median, road markings including pedestrian crossings, removal of bushes on space around median. NHAI officials said that at present, the existing height of retaining walls along the route was only two feet. Relaying work, without milling of old bitumen, along the stretch has increased the total height of the carriageway and reduced the total height of retaining walls on the bridges, posing a risk to motorists.

“At night, driving on these bridges remains risky…,” K. Sugan, a motorist, said.

NHAI Officials further said that at present, the stretch had around 50 bridges, including across railway level crossings. Each district has around 10 to 12 bridges on thestretch. Each bridge, on an average, was around 800-metres-long and 15-metres wide.