On August 16, two students were run over by a sewage tanker lorry at the junction of Sowmiya Nagar and Mambakkam Main Road, Medavakkam. They were identified as M. Ashwin (19), a polytechnic student, and R. Bagyalakshmi, a plus two student. They were seen speeding on a motorbike, before the fatal accident.
The bike skidded when Ashwin tried to avoid a barricade and the lorry, which was also reportedly speeding, was closely following the bike.
The residents blocked the road, demanding speed breakers and traffic control measures.
“Motorists don’t seem to have learnt a lesson from this gory accident. Road users continue to throw caution to the wind. Pedestrians are the worst affected and are at risk for fatal accidents. They are not able to cross the thoroughfare, which are teeming with fast-moving vehicles,” R. Raghu, a resident of Sowmiya Nagar, said.
Things are worse during the rush hour. Either a speed-breaker or a traffic signal should be installed at the junction towards Medavakkam and Sithalapakkam. Water tankers come at break neck speed scaring other road users. It must be noted that the thoroughfare is home to educational institutions, Raghu added.
To avoid the burgeoning vehicular traffic and the chaotic situation due to non-functioning of traffic signals at the junction of Velachery Main Road and Mambakkam Main Road, Medavakkam, and the junction of Velachery Main Road and Perumbakkam Main Road, vehicle users cut through Sowmiya Nagar (junction) to go to the IT Corridor and East Coast Road, residents pointed out.
Vehicles coming from Sowmiya Nagar and Mambakkam Main Road do not bother to stop, even for a minute, at the junction. Vehicles coming from Medavakkam and Sithalapakkam come at full speed and take a u-turn (Sithalapakkam) at the junction, to take a short cut (through Sowmiya Nagar) to go to Perumbakkam. Similarly, vehicles coming from Sowmiya Nagar and proceeding towards Sithalapakkam, take a left turn.
Moreover, vehicle users want the authorities concerned to remove a steel barricade on Sowmiya Nagar, First Street. Vehicles coming from Medavakkam take a left turn to go to First Street, facing the risk of hitting the barricade. Commuters expect the authorities concerned to lay speed breakers or install a traffic signal to prevent similar incidents.