Residents living along the 30-km-long Outer Ring Road (ORR) are worried about the increasing number of accidents on the stretch, which was opened just over a month ago.
According to the police, there have been at least eight accidents on the road from Vandalur to Nemmilichery.
Ramapuram resident R.N. Varadhan said that even before the road was thrown open to traffic, accidents kept happening on the service lanes.
“Within just 36 hours of inauguration, a fatal accident took place on the road. Though we are happy with the improved connectivity, we are worried about the accidents. Motorists are slowly getting used to the entry and exit points and, hopefully, in a few weeks, the number of accidents will come down,” he said.
Last Sunday, a 25-year-old who worked in a private company in Ambattur died in an accident on ORR, at Nemmilichery. The victime, Arun, and his friend were returning from Poonamallee. The youngster lost control and rammed his two-wheeler into the median. He died on the spot. His friend is out of danger.
About ten days ago, two policemen on night rounds were hit by a speeding vehicle.
One of them died on the spot and the other died on his way to the hospital.
The police said at least six accidents have happened on ORR in the past month or so. “Often, motorists drive on the wrong side or take ‘U’ turns where they should not. They don’t follow traffic rules, which is the cause of most accidents,” said a police officer.
Pattabiram resident T. Sadagopan said, as the stretch is designed for 110 km/hr speeds, many motorists prefer to cruise along.
“At times, some parts of ORR are in darkness, and this can cause problems. If heavy vehicles drive at that speed, two-wheelers will just be pushed in the draft,” he said.
The company that manages the road and the police should join hands and create awareness among road users and try to reduce the frequency of accidents, he said.
