The Hindu: Chennai: Friday, June
17, 2016.
Over two
weeks after the collapse of the pedestrian bridge at the Duraisamy subway on
May 30, residents are unhappy at the Corporation’s attitude towards its
maintenance, which they say is responsible for the incident. The pedestrian
bridge linking Rameswaram Street with Mambalam High Road was being expanded by
a contractor engaged by the civic body when it collapsed, injuring workers.
S. Mohan, a
resident of M.S. Salai, said the walkover bridge had helped pedestrians cross
easily without getting caught in traffic congestion. But with the collapse of
the bridge, cyclists and pedestrians are forced to take a detour via the subway
or the congested Duraisamy Road.
The members
of T. Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association questioned the need for expanding
the pedestrian bridge which was in good shape. They wondered what was the need
for taking up this work urgently when there was no demand from residents of the
area.
The
association members also said the civic body is yet to respond to a Right to
Information Act (RTI) plea seeking reasons for the widening of the walkover
bridge.
A senior
official of the civic body said the pedestrian bridge measuring three metres was
to be widened to five metres based on feedback received from motorists about
autorickshaws entering the bridge and blocking traffic.
“The
pedestrian bridge was increasingly used by autos which posed a danger to the
pedestrians and cyclists. So, the bridge running parallel to the railway track
was proposed to be widened. The widening of the pedestrian bridge which was to
cost Rs. 65 lakh involved replacing the old structure with a precast concrete
one,” he said.
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