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Motorcyclist killed as MTC bus jumps signal on Anna Salai

By Karthik Subramanian

CHENNAI APRIL 27. A motorcyclist, who obeyed a traffic signal on Anna Salai on Sunday morning, lost his life after an MTC bus that ignored a red signal rammed his vehicle.

The death of a Kondithope resident, Ajay Kumar, which happened just a few metres away from the D2 Anna Salai Police Station on the four-lane stretch, raised serious questions about the approach to traffic enforcement in the city, and the capacity of the police to deal with violations by State-operated vehicles which are "immune" from direct action like fines.

The crash occurred when two persons on a motorcycle crossed over from Smith Road into the four lane Anna Salai near the TVS bus stop at around 10 a.m. after the signal changed to green for their side. But the MTC bus no. 29 L, proceeding towards Thiruvanmiyur, tried to beat the red light and smashed into the vehicle. Ajay Kumar, who was driving the motorcycle, died on the spot while the pillion rider, Mohan Kumar, was taken to the Government Royapettah Hospital and discharged after treatment for some minor injuries.

The Anna Square traffic police enquiring into the accident filed a complaint against the bus driver, Thiagarajan under IPC 304(A).

The accident focussed attention on not just the reckless driving by the MTC bus drivers, but the indifferent policing on Anna Salai be it day or night. Only recently, the traffic management on four lane Anna Salai was criticised by the then DGP, R. Rajagopalan.

Despite the avoidable road death earlier in the day, MTC buses were found routinely violating the Smith Road signal this afternoon, even as a few traffic police constables at the site of the accident watched idly. Rather than regulating the traffic, the constables were keen only on checking the records of the motorists using the service lane and openly collecting money.

The one-way arrangement forcing motorists to take the Smith Road to enter the Anna Salai has repeatedly been pointed out as an enormous road safety nightmare, but police have consistently brushed the issue aside.

"Several vehicles speed up once the traffic is cleared at Spencer Plaza junction and some of them turn at Patullos Road. Most other vehicles that are proceeding towards Gemini flyover do not even bother to adopt the four lane discipline or obey the signals en route", a motorist said.

Because of the way it is located on the "no-stop" four-lane stretch, police do not even stop vehicles violating the Smith Road signal, as such enforcement would lead to a "hold-up". After 9 p.m., though the signal is on, those who obey it are almost certain to be run over by buses who think of the entire traffic requirements as a "nuisance."

When contacted, the Joint Commissioner (Traffic) G.U.G. Sastri, said accident was only due to the "rash and negligent driving" by the MTC bus driver. He, however, added that accidents involving MTC buses in the city have come down.

Mr. Sastri said the traffic police were closely interacting with the MTC bus drivers to reduce the number of accidents. "We shall soon be introducing a record for all traffic violations by the MTC bus drivers to help us identify the rash and negligent drivers". In case of fatal accidents, the MTC drivers would immediately be placed under suspension.

The role of the Transport Department in road safety in the city is underplayed, say activists. It is possible to get a licence in Chennai, without ever demonstrating ability to maintain lane discipline. Most MTC drivers have no concept of lane discipline. Even RTO vehicles can be seen violating lane discipline.

Police "interceptor" vehicles, meant to surprise such bad drivers with strict enforcement, have hardly been seen on Anna Salai. Though they could be deployed at night to check speeding container and sand lorries, this is not done.

Even the death of a police head constable on Anna Salai at Spencer's Junction, close to today's accident spot, has not prompted the officials to introduce sufficient mobile traffic patrols.

Meanwhile, repeated announcements to go "high tech" with traffic cameras, `camcorders,' additional speed guns, LED-based traffic signals and breathalysers remain on paper, or in some cases, at the stage of calling tenders.

"It is clear that in Chennai, one can safely pay a fine or bribe for violating the signal and still escape with one's life. Obeying a signal can prove fatal, whatever the police brass may say in seminars", a two-wheeler rider said.

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