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Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009
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Baalu opens Poosaripatti four-lane road

Staff Reporter

Photo: P. Goutham

Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu (second left) inaugurating the Salem-Poosaripatti four-lane stretch in Salem on Monday. –

SALEM: Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu called upon government departments and non-governmental organisations to work together to ensure traffic safety on the national highways.

Mr. Baalu was speaking after dedicating the Salem Poosaripatti four-lane stretch here on Monday. The country had witnessed over 4.6 lakh accidents in 2006. Over 1.05 lakh people were killed in these accidents and four lakh persons sustained injuries. The country had sustained a social loss of over Rs. 55,000 crore, which was about 3 per cent of the GDP in 2006, the Minister said.

Mr. Baalu wanted officials and people to cooperate with each other to prevent accidents. The Centre was providing training to drivers as most accidents occurred owing to driver’s fault. The Minister said the country registered a significant growth under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. The average growth during the last four years was about 8.6 per cent.

Making a reference to the “advice” of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa that Congress should snap ties with DMK, Mr. Baalu said Jayalalithaa who assailed UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi earlier was now trying to woo Congress. She was desperate for an alliance as the people were favouring the DMK-Congress coalition, which he said had ensured all round development in the country.

K.V. Thankgabalu, MP; Collector J. Chandrasekar; Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini; National Highways Authority of India chairman Brijeshwar Singh; its advisor Ashok Vasan; and other senior officials were present.

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