Frequent accidents along Tiruchi-Karur Highway raise concern

Frequent accidents along Tiruchi-Karur National Highway have raised concern among road users.

Among all National Highways connected with Tiruchi, it is the Tiruchi-Karur section of the national highway that is called as accident prone. Thousands of vehicles heading towards Coimbatore, Erode and Karur pass through the section that runs for 71 km. Of it, two-lane covers 46 km. Though the road is relatively safe for driving between Mayanur and Karur as this stretch is a four-way, the stretch between Tiruchi and Pettavaithalai is considered as accident prone. Accidents have almost become an order the day along the stretch.

According to Road Users Welfare Association, about 112 accidents were reported in 2024, resulting in 44 fatalities and about 20 fatalities reported in 2025. Three motorists were killed in January this year. A Revenue Divisional Officer, who was killed in a road accident at Kadiyakurichi near Jeeeyapuram about six months ago, was among the victims.

By taking into account continuous accidents, the NHAI conducted a study recently to identify black spots. It also came out with a few awareness measures to indicate the accident prone spots. It created pedestrian facilities such as zebra crossings with advanced warning signs, cross barriers, railings, solar lights, blinkers, and road markings at various places. These measures have been serving the purpose to an extent. However, there is no let up in road accidents.

“Though the entire stretch from Kudamuriti to Pettavaithalai is dangerous, I find the road between Anthanallur and Thindukarai and Kodiyalam and Pettavaithalai is most dangerous,” says P. Ayyarappan, president, Road Users Welfare Association.

The 11-km stretch between Tiruchi and Thindukarai, which runs between the Cauvery and Tiruchi-Karur railway line, is under the maintenance of the State Highways and the Thindukarai-Pettavaithalai stretch comes under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Mr. Ayyarappan said that the NHAI and the State Highways should take more concrete steps to reduce the accidents. They should widen the road and construct a median at villages or suburbs along the dangerous stretches, wherever possible.