Foot overbridge in front of Muthumalai Murugan Temple in Salem to be opened within a month

NHAI constructing foot overbridges on Salem-Ulundurpet highway to prevent pedestrian accidents, opening near Muthumalai Murugan Temple soon.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified a few places to construct foot overbridges to prevent pedestrian accidents on the Salem-Ulundurpet national highways. A foot overbridge being built near the Muthumalai Murugan Temple will be opened for public use before May 15.

Thousands of vehicles heading to Chennai, Villupuram, and Kallakuruchi from Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, and Kerala use the Salem-Ulundurpet National Highway. Since many accidents are reported, especially involving pedestrians, the public demanded measures to prevent such incidents.

People from nearby villages who try to cross the highway are the main victims. Hence, the NHAI has identified locations where people crossing the highway was high and provided metal beam crash barriers at accident-prone areas. As a next step, the NHAI has identified Karipatti, Thalaivasal, and Puthiragoundampalayam to provide foot overbridges to reduce pedestrian casualties.

The NHAI started constructing a foot overbridge in January this year near the Muthumalai Murugan temple at Puthiragoundampalayam as a large number of devotees visit the temple and the work is nearing completion.

Officials said the foot overbridge in front of the temple is being constructed at ₹2.30 crore. Bids will be finalised for the facility planned near Thalaivasal. The foot overbridge before the Karipatti primary health centre is awaiting approval from the department, the officials added.