T’puram: State human rights commission directed public works department (PWD) to urgently install warning signboards at identified accident-prone black spots along Karamana-Kaliyikkavila Road based on data provided by crime records bureau.Commission chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas issued the directive while considering a suo motu case registered based on media reports regarding recurring accidents and traffic safety concerns on the stretch. The panel also directed authorities to complete the e-tender procedures for annual maintenance of traffic signal lights across the state within the stipulated time frame. It further instructed chief engineer of PWD national highways wing to grant administrative sanction without delay to the estimate submitted by executive engineer for marking zebra crossings on the Karamana-Kaliyikkavila Road. Directions in this regard were issued to district collector, transport commissioner, executive engineer of the PWD national highways wing and city police commissioner. During the proceedings, regional transport officer informed SHRC that traffic signal repairs were delayed because the annual maintenance contract with Keltron was not renewed. Social activist Shanthivila Padmakumar filed a complaint before SHRC seeking urgent intervention to improve road safety measures on the busy highway stretch. In Jan, SHRC directed district collector to order an inquiry into the prolonged failure of traffic signal lights at major junctions on Karamana-Kaliyikkavila Road, citing growing safety concerns and frequent accidents. SHRC then instructed that the traffic assistant commissioner be tasked with probing why traffic signals at Pravachambalam, Vellayani and Nemom junctions remained non-functional for a long period. The inquiry should identify those responsible for the lapse and recommend measures to ensure that such failures do not recur.
