The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Better planning needed to avert road accidents in city

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Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Better planning needed to avert road accidents in city

L. Srikrishna

— Photo: G. Moorthy

Needs some rein: Absence of speed breakers and traffic policemen around the Indian Oil Corporation junction in the city is resulting in frequent road accidents.

MADURAI: Sudden razing or laying of speed-breakers at important road intersections has been leading to accidents in the city, of late.

On Tuesday, a motorcyclist proceeding towards New Natham Road from Gokhale Road was hit by a car coming from Alagarkoil Road near the Indian Oil Corporation roundabout. Though the youth escaped unhurt, the two-wheeler was damaged, Tallakulam Traffic police said.

Some of the shopkeepers in the area said that the number of accidents had risen around IOC junction, especially after the speed breakers were removed. “Though speed breakers are perceived to be a nuisance, they do slow down speed of vehicles,” they said.

Speed breakers were razed at this junction recently to facilitate smooth passage of the convoy of Chief Minister, who was here to unveil the statue of former Assembly Speaker P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan. Over a month has passed, but the speed breakers have not been re-laid.

With the vehicle population hovering around one million in the city, accidents are reported on New Natham Road, Maatuthavani junction, Kamarajar Salai, Bypass Road and Travellers’ Bungalow Road, police said and added that in most cases, two-wheeler riders were the victims.

Signal needed

It is suggested that an automatic traffic signal be installed at Raja Muthiah Mandram circle near the district court complex, a busy road junction, which witnesses heavy traffic during peak hours. In the absence of a policeman to regulate traffic, on many occasions, vehicles coming from the Corporation office side proceeding towards Melur Road find it difficult to negotiate the Raja Muthiah Mandram circle.

A traffic police officer in the area felt that prohibiting right turn to vehicles coming from K. K. Nagar side into the court complex would prevent accidents. Vehicles could instead take a right turn at the Raja Muthiah Mandram circle and proceed to the district court complex at the entrance on the approach road to the Race Course Stadium, he added.

Many road users are of the opinion that presence of traffic police at places such as East Veli Street, South Gate, Palanganatham, Arapalayam and Fatima College prevent accidents to a great extent.

Commissioner of Police K. Nandabalan told reporters on Monday that the police were examining certain modifications to improve traffic flow in various parts of the city. He did not elaborate on the plans. Fines collected from violators of road rules in the last 14 months had crossed Rs. 3 crore.

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