T’puram: CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, in a letter to Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, said that the unscientific approach and negligence in the construction and maintenance of national highways in Keralam are leading to the repeated loss of lives in vehicle accidents. He pointed out that the latest tragedy was the death of eight engineering students from Tamil Nadu in an accident near Kaipamangalam in Thrissur.Initial reports indicated that the car with students rammed a parked truck because proper warning signs had not been placed where the road had been diverted due to ongoing construction work. The letter stressed that this was not an isolated incident and that similar accidents had occurred in the past in the state. Viswam urged that National Highways Authority be directed to take urgent steps in this matter.He added that those who collect money from travellers through toll booths have a responsibility to ensure safe travel.
