The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Bad roads and fatal accidents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 24, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Bad roads and fatal accidents

The heart-rending death of a father and son riding a two-wheeler in an accident on GST Road on September 6 has been widely reported. The Hindu’s report on September 7 drew attention to the bad maintenance of GST Road near MIT bridge, the accident spot.

While the police proceed against motorists in such cases, is there no legal liability on the part of the Highways department for bad maintenance of the road, the root cause of the accident?

In fact, petitions have been submitted to the police and the Human Rights Commission to proceed against the Highways Department for its rash and negligent acts that led to the avoidable deaths referred to above.

The Chromepet police station has acknowledged receipt of our complaint and recorded it in the community register, vide number 78/2007. We appeal to the State Government to immediately compensate the affected family liberally, as it has done in many extraordinary cases of accidental deaths, and review the working of the Highways department, Corporations, Municipalities and Panchayats to make them accountable for bad roads.

V. Santhanam,

Chromepet

Disconnection of water, sewerage connection

It is not just to disconnect the water and sewerage connection in a building consisting of flats for the default of some flat owner.

This amounts to penalising flat owners paying taxes regularly.

The Metrowater should penalise only the defaulters by attaching their properties and the permissible household articles for tax dues.

R. Javanthinathan,

Ashok Nagar

More buses needed

We, the residents of Porur, have been travelling by 37G bus (Iyyappanthangal–Vallalar Nagar) to reach our offices in Nungambakkam.

There are traffic jams at Virugambakkam and Kodambakkam Bridge, especially during peak hours.

Moreover, buses on this route do not come at regular intervals (two or three buses come at a time after a long gap). The authorities must operate more buses (white board, yellow board (or) trailer buses) on this route.

S. Bhuvaneswari,

Porur

Poor supply of drinking water

There was drinking water supply once a week for the past many months till August 19.

The supply was disrupted for reasons known to the authorities.

Metrowater organises open house meeting for city consumers to hear the grievances and redress them, wherever possible.

For us, there is no forum to air our grievances. M. Ganesan,

Nanganallur

Road crossing a nightmare

College Road is very dangerous to cross, especially in front of the bus stop abutting the Meteorological department. There is an unrelenting stream of vehicles and it is extremely difficult during peak hours to cross the stretch in the absence of a traffic constable or speed breakers. Almost all vehicles are driven at breakneck speed.

K.A. Gopalakrishna Sharma

Chromepet

Travel concession for Senior Citizens

The railways is giving a concession of 30 per cent on the fare for senior citizens. Air India gives 50 per cent concession. Our Railway Minister deserves praise for several good measures, including for presenting a surplus budget. We pray to our Minister to announce 50 per cent travel concession for senior citizens on October 1, “Elders Day,” this year.

D. Dasaratharaman

Choolaimedu

Theft-prone area

In the recent past, two chain snatching incidents and several failed attempts were reported at AK Block 10th Main Road, Anna Nagar. Will the police arrange for patrolling and to create awareness among the public. C. R. Vidyasagar,

Anna Nagar

Clarification

With reference to the complaint made by Shri B. Srinivasan in the Reader’s Mail column of ‘The Hindu’ (dated 10-9-2007), we would like to intimate that the said Registered Letter was delivered to the addressee in New Delhi on 19-5-2007.

A suitable reply was given to the complainant on 10-9-2007 in person and the complainant appreciated the quick action taken by the Department in this regard.

As regards non-acknowledgement of the complaint in question, and not taking prompt action, it appears that the complaint in original given by the complainant was misplaced and suitable action is being taken against the official at fault.

We regret the inconvenience caused to the complainant in this regard.

Regarding alleged non-receipt of about 80 book posts (sent by the complainant) by the addressees concerned, this is to intimate that the Department is dealing with unregistered mail in millions of pieces every day and therefore it does not keep any account for the transmission and delivery of such unregistered articles.

However, the Department is taking all out efforts to ensure that each and every unregistered article posted is properly delivered to the addressee concerned and in case of their being refused or unclaimed, the articles are returned to the sender concerned.

The facts were explained to the complainant in person and the complainant has given a letter asking us to treat the matter as closed.

A. Thomas Lourduraj,

Senior Supdt. of Post Offices, Chennai City North Division, Chennai-600008

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