Commuters extra cautious crossing elevated corridor

Chennai: Whether Wednesday’s accident had improved safety at metro rail work sites or not, it has definitely forced commuters to be extra cautious while crossing the work sites on the elevated corridor.Motorists were keeping an eye on the overhead metro structure more than the bumper ahead at the accident site near Officer’s Training Academy. More than the presence of a traffic constable, it was the fear of an iron railing falling down that had disciplined the commuters. The motorists were riding as if a police car in front piloted them.

“I don’t see any iron railing from below, but my fear refuses to die down. There could be some objects on the corridor still. It is not one of those regular road accidents you witness. It is freak. It is difficult not to think of it when you drive past the spot,” said R. Santhanam, a retired engineer from Pallavaram who was riding to Saidapet.

“No new net has come up at the metro rail station near OTA. The existing ones seem to hang loosely. I fear metro rail has not learned its lessons even after Wednesday’s disaster,” complained homemaker Priya Ramesh of Nanganallur.

CMRL officers say; there is no need to tie nets under via ducts. Except Vadapalani, Little Mount, Airport, Meenambakkam, Azhar Khana-Mount intersection and OTA stations, where some finishing touches are pending, civil works are largely over, a senior CMRL officer added.