Motorists on Second Street in Muthalpudupet, Avadi, are at high risk for accidents because a Tangedco electric pole stands smack in the middle of the stretch.
The risk of motorists riding into the pole is compounded by the fact that the stretch bends at this point and is poorly illuminated.
According to the Muthalpudupet police, every week, on an average, two persons get hit on the pole.
Every day, hundreds of motorists use the stretch to reach the railway station and the big market at Muthalpudupet. Besides, many children take the stretch to reach a school located around 200 metres off the road.
The 16-feet-wide road has houses on both sides making it difficult for the Avadi municipality, the local body that maintains the neighbourhood, to widen stretch to ensure motorists do not face the risk of banging into the electric pole.
“Many motorists take the stretch, because it provides a shorter route for them to reach the railway station and the bus stand at Muthalpudupet,” said R.Rajendran, a resident.
The risk of any of these motorists ramming into the pole increases after sunset, because the stretch is poorly illuminated.
At night, motorists rely more on the headlights of their vehicles than the street lights to help them avoid hitting the the pole. Over the years, several complaints have been made to the local Tangedco officials at Pattabiram, but no effort has been taken to shift the pole.
“Currently, we do not have an adequate stock of poles and uprooting the existing pole will result in its damage. We will replace it with a new pole soon,” said a Tangedco official.
