CHENNAI: Nearly one-third of accidents on East Coast Road turn out to be fatal.

This is revealed in a preliminary report prepared by the Highways Research Station, a wing of the State Highways Department, which has been asked to study the high rate of accidents on the road.

According to the report, the number of accidents was 156 in 2004 and 161 the next year. Till the end of May this year, the figure was 87.

In the two-and-half years, nearly 120 lives were lost. The rate of fatal accidents was 30.76 per cent for 2004, 29.81 per cent for 2005 and 26.45 per cent for 2006 (until May).

A study of the stretch of Chennai-Tiruchi national highway (from the city to the limits of Chengalpattu) would be taken up.

Highways Minister Vellakoil M.P. Saminathan said East Coast Road was one of 300 accident-prone spots.

The study on the road would be carried out this year, and Rs. 10 lakh had been sanctioned. Under the Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project, studies would soon be conducted on 50 accident-prone areas. Gradually, all such sites would be covered.

IT corridor project

On the progress of the information technology corridor project, the Minister hoped the work on the corridor for three km would be completely shortly.

Efforts were being made to complete the work on the remaining 17 km by May next. Land acquisition for the second phase had been initiated. The department was expediting various road over-bridge projects, launched during 1999-2000.

Earlier, at the HRS complex, Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin declared open an exhibition on the functions of the Station, established in 1957.

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