Residents and social activists have urged the Highways Department to install a speed-breaker at Balaji Nagar on the busy Mayiladuthurai-Poompuhar-Manakkudi road, citing frequent road accidents and loss of lives in the area.

The road connects Mayiladuthurai town with the new bus terminus at Manakkudi and has witnessed increased traffic movement in recent months. Residents said the Balaji Nagar junction had become accident-prone due to speeding vehicles and heavy traffic flow from the Mayiladuthurai-Sirkazhi road through Kooturavu Nagar towards the town and the bus terminus.

Social activist A. Apparasundaram said several accidents had occurred in the stretch over the past month. “Vehicles travel at high speed as there is no speed-breaker between Manakkudi and Caltax road. Immediate measures are needed to prevent further loss of lives,” he said.

R. Sathya, a resident of the area, said motorists often failed to slow down at the junction despite the dense movement of vehicles and pedestrians. “The junction requires constant vigilance from commuters. Installing a speed-breaker will help reduce accidents,” she said.

Official sources in the Highways Department said the request from residents would be examined and appropriate action taken based on feasibility and traffic assessment.