Kerala looks to create zero accident zone on MC Road, an important tourist pathway

The MC Road in Kerala is one of the crucial pathways that lead to many tourist destinations including eco-tourism centres, waterfalls, popular resorts and religious destinations. However, it has also been accident prone.

The Kerala government has now decided to take steps to make it accident free. It has initiated a new Rs 147 crore project aimed at safety, on this 80km stretch.

The safe corridor demonstration on MC Road is part of the ongoing World Bank-aided Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) that was commissioned by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The busy two-lane, two-way corridor spread over Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts will now see enhanced road safety, better engineering, and enforcement measures.

Commissioning the safe corridor thorough video conference from the secretariat, the Chief Minister on Thursday said the safe corridor stresses on the state’s thrust to road safety while developing road corridors.

Improvement of 33 junctions, gateway treatment in 36 school zones, solar lighting, road markings, hitherto unused in the state, sign boards and crash barriers have been introduced in the safe corridor.

Steps to strengthen the post-crash trauma care facilities in the Government Medical College Hospital at Thiruvananthapuram, Taluk hospital at Kottarakara, General Hospital Adoor and Primary health centres at Kannyakulangara and Vamanapuram at a cost of ₹28.2 crore is on.

Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran presided and Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran attended the function.