Kerala’s failure to set up rest centres for drivers adds to NH66 safety debate

Thiruvananthapuram: It is not just the construction of National Highway 66 that is facing lapses—road safety is also being compromised in Kerala. As per the directives of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, rest centres for drivers should be established every 60 kilometres. However, this norm is not being followed in Kerala.

Continuous driving without proper rest may not only cause fatigue but also lead to highway hypnosis, which can impair alertness and increase the risk of accidents.

The monotonous and repetitive visuals on national highways, especially those with barricaded sides, often cause drivers to become disinterested and drowsy. Taking even a 10-minute break after an hour of driving can help prevent such issues.

Though toll collection centres have been planned every 60 kilometres across the state, no decision has been taken on setting up rest centres. Due to the lack of land acquisition, constructing rest facilities at toll plazas has not been feasible. The state government had earlier decided to establish rest areas at 100-kilometre intervals, considering local conditions, but this too has not been implemented.

According to Section 135 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, the state government is also responsible for providing associated facilities, including rest centres. Although discussions have taken place, there has been no tangible progress. In contrast, several other states have implemented such facilities on highways built after 2020.

The Highway Department has requested 1.4 hectares of land from Calicut University for this purpose. Talks have also begun for acquiring land in two locations for truck parking. However, road safety experts say these measures are inadequate. Safety audits conducted during the highway construction phase had recommended the inclusion of parking facilities, but the current alignment lacks the necessary provision for the same.