Tiruvallur, a fast-growing logistics and residential hub on Chennai’s northwestern edge, has begun a comprehensive audit of fatal and non-fatal road accidents across the district.

Special task forces made up of transport, police, and revenue officials have started field investigations at high-risk locations such as Red Hills, Poonamallee, and Tiruvallur town.

The initiative follows an alarming 188 road crashes, including 49 fatalities, reported in February alone. Tiruvallur Collector M. Prathap has directed officials to analyse five years’ worth of crash data to assess if road design flaws or other factors are behind the incidents. “If corrective measures are needed, we will implement them,” Prathap said.

Tiruvallur’s road network is extensive, covering key state highways, major district roads, and three national highways — NH-716, NH-16, and NH-48.

Earlier this month, Avadi City Police Commissioner K. Shankar narrowly escaped injury when a maxi truck rear-ended his car on the Grand Northern Trunk (GNT) Road near Sholavaram, highlighting the growing risk.

Data reviewed by TNIE and state officials revealed several dangerous blackspots, particularly along NH-205. Key stretches flagged include Arcotkuppam Junction to Canara Bank, Arcotkuppam Bridge to Pudhur Bus Stand, and Pudhur Junction to Narayanapuram Road. Urgent interventions, such as speed-calming measures and better lighting, are being deployed.

Beyond the blackspots, other corridors are also under scrutiny. The Mappedu–Sunguvarchatram road suffers from poor lighting and missing signage, while the Tiruvallur–Tiruttani stretch, termed a “continuous danger zone” by local police, is being prioritised for upgrades. In Poonamallee, the Palivakkam signal on the Chennai-Bengaluru route has turned into an accident hotspot due to broken service roads and potholes.

Persistent problems like the non-functional high-mast light at Thirumazhisai junction remain unresolved, pending a new power connection. Meanwhile, heavy vehicles continue to make dangerous U-turns at the Red Hills Padiyanallur signal on the Chennai–Kolkata highway due to the absence of a cloverleaf interchange on the Outer Ring Road.

Experts are calling for a major shift toward predictive, data-driven safety strategies. P.S. Reashma, Mobility and Road Safety Specialist at Street Matrix, stressed the need for systematic crash investigations and proactive identification of “grey spots” before they turn into blackspots.

Looking ahead, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a new access-controlled, four-lane highway for the region, scheduled for completion by December 2026.