Heavy vehicles not to be permitted on Thirumukkudal bridge during peak hours

To ensure the safety of pedestrians, school and college students and office-goers, heavy vehicles will not be allowed to pass on the Thirumukkudal bridge over the Palar River in Kancheepuram district during peak hours.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting attended by residents, quarry owners and police, where the need for proper lighting was also emphasized. Trucks will not be allowed to enter the bridge between 07.00-09.00 in the morning and later between 17.00-19.00. At least 300 trucks use the bridge daily.

Listening to the concerns of various stakeholders, Salavakkam Superintendent T. Balachandran said that demands for barricades at road turns have already been implemented. “We have told the quarry owners that the police will not hesitate to impose a fine of ₹ 1 lakh if ​​the trucks are found speeding or carrying extra weight,” he said.

The lack of lighting on the long bridge, which is famous for the deaths caused by Taurus vehicles coming from the nearby quarries, makes transportation difficult. Residents of the neighborhood protested last week after 34-year-old bricklayer S. Sakthivel died under a truck.

Harikrishnan, a resident of the area, said, “Almost immediately after the death, we did not allow the transportation of heavy vehicles carrying M sand and blue metal from local quarries and crushing units. We are struggling to find a solution to the traffic problems caused by quarries in this region. Drivers are unruly and do not follow traffic rules.”

Quarry owner Kothandaraman said the quarry owners agreed to install solar-powered lights on the bridge within a month. “We will also pave approximately 3 km of the damaged road. The quarry owners have decided to ensure that the bridge is cleaned regularly and the trucks are covered with tarpaulins to prevent dust from flying,” he said.