The Mukkombu regulator road, an essential but narrow passage that spans the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers near Trichy, has become a focal point of safety concerns due to frequent traffic congestion.
This road, situated atop the Mukkombu barrage, has seen an increase in vehicular traffic as travellers use it to bypass longer routes. This trend has raised alarms among road safety activists who are calling for urgent measures to address the growing risks associated with its use. The Mukkombu regulator, which manages water diversion from the Mettur dam to the two rivers, features a slim 3-metre-wide road connecting the banks of the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers via Srirangam Island. Traditionally, this route served local commuters, including workers and students. However, recent months have seen a surge in vehicles from other districts using this narrow passage to avoid a 30-kilometre detour. Guided by online mapping applications, these visitors often find themselves struggling with the road’s limited width, leading to frequent traffic jams and incidents of vehicles getting stuck. P. Aiyarappan, a member of the district road safety council, has highlighted the increasing frequency of such issues, noting the road’s unsuitability for heavy or high-density traffic.
In response to these concerns, road safety advocates are urging the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Trichy rural police to impose restrictions on vehicle movement across the regulator road. They argue that the road’s age and narrow design make it prone to damage from heavy traffic and vibrations. Local authorities, including Deputy Superintendent of Police K. K. Balachandar, have expressed the need for discussions with PWD officials to potentially restrict access to this road. Additionally, there are calls for new bridge constructions across the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers near Jeeyapuram and Vathalai to alleviate the traffic burden on the Mukkombu road. The PWD has acknowledged these concerns and is considering measures to regulate vehicle flow on this critical but overstretched infrastructure.
