In the wake of a sprout in accidents on the Kalhatty ghat section, stretching from Ooty to Masinagudi, with 36 hairpin bends, police have decided to install a 'public addressing system' at the Kalhatty check post to curtail accidents on the tricky terrain. The ghat stretch witnessed several accidents in the past few months. The steep and narrow road is a shorter route to Karnataka from Ooty.
In the past six months, the Ooty-Kalhatty road witnessed at least five casualties due to accidents. Besides, vehicles frequently suffer a breakdown on this section.
"The Ooty- Kalhatty road is very steep, running through the ghat section. Tourists are not familiar with the terrain of this area. They drive at speeds that are meant only for the plains, said A Manikandan, Ooty town DSP. "Despite erecting warning boards, most tourists don't stick to the speed limit of 20km/hour," he said.
Earlier, a few police men used to be deployed at various points of the ghat section to instruct tourists to follow the speed limit and halt the vehicle for a while after a stretch.
"Shortage of police strength in the Nilgiris is a the major problem. Earlier, the youth brigade recruits were available and they were deployed for the purpose. Now, they have gone for training," said the DSP.
According to Manikandan, speeding is the main reason for accidents in the ghat section. Moreover, tourists from the plains are not familiar with the hairpin bends and steep terrain. They have to be educated.
However, keeping in mind the heavy tourist influx and their safety, a 'public addressing system' will be set up at Kalhatty check post soon, said the police official.
In the past six months, the Ooty-Kalhatty road witnessed at least five casualties due to accidents. Besides, vehicles frequently suffer a breakdown on this section.
"The Ooty- Kalhatty road is very steep, running through the ghat section. Tourists are not familiar with the terrain of this area. They drive at speeds that are meant only for the plains, said A Manikandan, Ooty town DSP. "Despite erecting warning boards, most tourists don't stick to the speed limit of 20km/hour," he said.
Earlier, a few police men used to be deployed at various points of the ghat section to instruct tourists to follow the speed limit and halt the vehicle for a while after a stretch.
"Shortage of police strength in the Nilgiris is a the major problem. Earlier, the youth brigade recruits were available and they were deployed for the purpose. Now, they have gone for training," said the DSP.
According to Manikandan, speeding is the main reason for accidents in the ghat section. Moreover, tourists from the plains are not familiar with the hairpin bends and steep terrain. They have to be educated.
However, keeping in mind the heavy tourist influx and their safety, a 'public addressing system' will be set up at Kalhatty check post soon, said the police official.