Date:08/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/08/stories/2007060819090400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Nagaswaram artiste knocked down at pedestrian crossing near MIT Bridge

K. Manikandan

Chromepet residents stage protests, demanding greater attention to road safety

ACCIDENT PRONE: A section of Chromepet residents staging a protest on Thursday seeking measures to curb accidents in the area. — Photo : A. Muralitharan

TAMBARAM : A 60-year-old nagaswaram artiste was killed on the spot after he was hit by a speeding car on Grand Southern Trunk near MIT Bridge, Chromepet on Thursday.

The victim, Ponnusamy, was crossing the road at the pedestrian crossing when he was hit by a car bound for Tambaram. The accident took place at 8 a.m.

Reacting to the accident and to draw the attention of the State Government to the increasing instances of fatal accidents on this stretch, a section of residents resorted to a protest.

Holding placards, members of Chromepet New Colony Residents Welfare Society, appealed to the Highways and Police Department to provide greater attention to pedestrian safety.

Ponnusamy, a resident of Chromepet New Colony, was a nagaswaram player, performing in concerts and temple festivals, residents of the locality said.

They recalled that a couple of months ago, two youths were killed at the same spot within a space of one week.

The pedestrian crossing had become one of the most dangerous spots, the activists said, calling for urgent measures to improve conditions there. The MIT bridge was built to replace the railway level crossing there and the area witnessed the movement of a large number of people from Hasthinapuram and Chromepet. The flow of people would further increase once all the schools re-open next week.

As three-foot high permanent medians were built from the Chromepet bus stand till Chromepet general hospital, a space was provided for pedestrians to reach both sides. V. Santhanam, president of the society, said warning boards should be installed ahead of the pedestrian crossing, cautioning motorists to go slow.

As a fall-out of the accident, personnel of Tambaram Traffic Police (Enforcement) conducted speed checks and pulled up errant two-wheeler riders and drivers of cars and commercial vehicles.

On Saturday, a 74-year old woman was killed after being hit by a bus at Tambaram.

She was also crossing the road at the pedestrian crossing when the accident took place.