Recently, T.V. Gopalakrishnan witnessed a minor accident involving a motorcyclist and a pedestrian at the junction of Puliyur First Main Road and Trustpuram, First Cross Street. The motorcyclist was at fault. He was driving on the wrong side of the two-way road. The pedestrian, taken by surprise, was thrown off balance and fortunately escaped with minor bruises. When Gopalakrishnan, who was walking, and other angry residents cornered the biker, he blamed the pillar that is smack in the middle of the road for the accident.
He said the over 10-foot high iron post blocked his view and could not see the pedestrian coming in the opposite direction. The group did not let him off the hook, but they had to agree with his argument that the pillar was an obstruction.
For over 40 years, this pillar has been adorning this junction where the road takes a slight curve from Trustpuram and eventually joins Arcot Road.
Being 10 feet away from the road margin, the pillar divides the road unevenly, leaving little space for vehicles on one side of the stretch.
“The pillar serves no purpose at all. In fact its presence is a nuisance for residents and motorists ,” says Gopalakrishnan, who has registered a complaint with the the Corporation to have it removed.
“I have submitted two online complaints, but nothing has come out of them so far. When I called an official, he asked me to find out whether the pillar was part of the original layout. I am a senior citizen and I can't go to one government office after another to find out such details. As an answer to my petition, the Corporation said it was the job of the electricity board to remove the pillar,” he adds.
Residents say the pillar is used for display of publicity material. “ Groups use it to paste their posters. When temples on the road can be removed, why can’t such pillars which have no significance for residents be removed too?” asks Sudhakar, a resident.
Lack of speed breakers near the pillar is adding to the problem.
“Speeding motorists on Puliyur Main Road take a sharp turn near the pillar endangering the lives of pedestrians and other motorists. A few years ago, there used to be two speed breakers on the either side of the pillar to check speeding. They were removed for some reason,” says Gopalakrishnan.
