The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Car knocks down pedestrian

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Friday, Nov 16, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Car knocks down pedestrian

Special Correspondent

Chitlapakkam residents want speed breakers re-installed

Photo: A. Muralitharan .

The car involved in the accident at Chitlapakkam near Tambaram on Thursday. —

TAMBARAM: A car transporting software professionals knocked down a pedestrian in Chitlapakkam near Tambaram on Thursday morning.

The car, belonging to a travel agency, was hired by a leading logistics operator to pick up and drop employees of a software major having its office in Velachery.

After dropping some employees in Chromepet, the Tata Indica, was returning to Velachery after picking up another employee.

Near the Muthalamman Temple tank, the driver is reported to have lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a right turn.

The car knocked down a person, rammed an electrical shop and came to halt after its wheels were trapped in a stormwater drain.

In the impact, the vehicle suffered extensive damage. Chitlapakkam police said the injured person was yet to be identified and was undergoing treatment for injuries in a private hospital.

The driver, M. Lingam (21), was taken to the police station. Shoppers and residents said improvement works were carried out on Chitlapakkam – Sembakkam Main Road at a cost of Rs.40 lakh about three years ago. To prevent overspeeding and rash driving, speed breakers were laid at regular intervals. However, they were removed a few months ago as the convoy of a Minister passed through this stretch. Since then, several minor accidents were taking place, people said.

Vijayalakshmi, a resident, said the Main Road was narrow and reckless driving by cars and jeeps increased the risks for the pedestrians.

At least basic maintenance works on the road, under the control of the St.Thomas Mount panchayat union, should be carried out immediately.

Ms. Vijayalakshmi said the accident took place early in the morning when movement of pedestrians was minimal.

“I am scared to think what would have happened had the car rammed the shop later in the day,” she said.

On September 28, three persons were killed in road accidents involving vehicles engaged by software companies.

Residents said traffic on this stretch had increased ever since the road overbridge at MIT Gate, Chromepet, was completed. Speed breakers are a must considering that the narrow road passed through thickly populated areas, in which there were and at least half-a-dozen schools.

Residents also called for stringent action to ensure that vehicles engaged by software firms did not violate norms, while attaching safety to other road users at the same time.

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