Labourious efforts by police help marginally reduce road accidents in Madurai city

Prevention of unexpected sudden turnings by bikes and entry of pedestrians on busy roads and measures to slowing down of vehicles have resulted in a marginal decrease in number of road accidents in 2005 in Madurai city.

The police have closed as many as 249 openings in the medians that allowed two-wheelers, autorickshaws and cars taking right turns and pedestrians and cattle crossing the roads on many arterial roads in the city in the last one year.

“As a result, the number of fatal accidents has dipped to 208 in 2025 as against the number of fatal accidents of 227 reported in 2024,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), S. Vanitha.

Similarly, the number of non-fatal accidents has come down to 410 (in 2025) from 424 in the previous year.

The authorised openings in the median and unauthorised entry of people and cattle through narrow openings meant for lamps posts caused many accidents.

After closing those openings, the number of accidents have come down, though vehicles have to take circuitous routes.

“A total of 124 bike riders and 65 pedestrians have been killed in road accidents,” the Deputy Commissioner said. Two-wheelers and pedestrians contribute more to the fatal accidents as the city has very less highways.

The police, along with officials from Regional Transport Office, transport corporation and engineers from corporation/highways/NHAI, make spot visit whenever road accidents are reported and ensure changes in road engineering or intensify enforcement activities.

To slow down the vehicles at junctions, speed-breakers and rumblers were put up on roads stretches identified as black spots (3) and hot spots (76) to prevent accidents. The police also erected barricades in wider roads to force vehicles, especially bike riders to slow down at junctions.

A total of 5.08 lakh cases were booked for road safety rules violation in those dangerous stretches and ₹44.91 crore of fine was imposed in 2025.

Besides, awareness programmes are being conducted regularly at schools and colleges to educate the younger generation about the importance of following road safety rules.

Similarly, encroachments were evicted from roads and road margins on Panangal Road, Netaji Road, Arapalayam, Kalavasal, Theni Road and East Gate to ensure free flow of traffic.