The death of yet another resident who was trying to cross the railway track near the Rangarajapuram flyover on Tuesday has reiterated the need for quick action by the Railways and the Chennai Corporation to prevent future accidents.
S. Rajagopalan (59) of the locality was hit by a train at 3.30 p.m. when he tried to cross the railway track through the damaged portion of the walls near the Rangarajapuram Flyover. Mr. Rajagopalan’s body with severe bleeding injuries was lying beside the tracks till 6.30 p.m. Even as hundreds of residents including his relatives gathered near the body, people were found crossing the tracks without any inhibition.
“This place has become a death trap. Four people have died and many injured in a short period of one month,” said C. Seshadri, president of Subramania Nagar Civic Welfare Association and one of the neighbours of the victim of the accident on Tuesday.
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“The wall near the railway track was demolished during the construction of the flyover by the Railways and the Chennai Corporation. The wall is damaged in four places through which residents cross the tracks. The delay on the part of the Chennai Corporation and Railways in providing the residents with a pedestrian subway to cross the track has made matters worse,” said Mr.Seshadri.
The railways have completed a portion of the subway and the Corporation is yet to commence the work, said he added. Water has stagnated in the incomplete portion of the subway and it is a breeding ground of mosquitoes, said Gopi, another resident.
Many people who are in a hurry to reach workplace try to cross the track and are trapped. “Mr.Rajagopalan was on his way to work at ICF. He was in a hurry to reach office by 5 p.m.” said S.Vausdevan, younger brother of the victim.
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“As thousands of people cross the tracks, the trains blow their horns continuously. This causes severe disturbance to the elderly,” said Viswamitra, a resident.
“The residents have been requesting the authorities concerned to reconstruct the broken portions of wall to prevent people from entering the tracks. The wall will prevent accidents on the tracks and on the roads near the flyover. Many vehicles speeding on the flyover have hit residents and animals stepping on the road after having crossed the track,” said N.Ranganathan, a resident who was part of the gathering near Mr. Rajagopalan’s body.
The residents also stressed the need for speed breakers on roads near the flyover to prevent accidents on roads. The second arm of the flyover that lands in Subramania Nagar in Kodambakkam was inaugurated last month. The ‘Y’-shaped facility has been constructed to reduce traffic congestion on the Doraisamy subway and consequently the Panagal Park area.
Corporation Commissioner D.Karthikeyan said there was no delay on the part of the Chennai Corporation in construction of the subway. “The subway is a separate project. The Corporation Council has already taken the initiative last month,” he said.