As the construction of flyover in front of the District Headquarters Hospital has narrowed down E.V.N. Road, patients, visitors and road users sought installation of speed breakers to ensure that people crossed the road safely and also to prevent accidents.
Hundreds of patients and people accompanying them visit the hospital every day. After the flyover was thrown open for public use in February this year, the road space in front of the hospital has been reduced leading to frequent congestion.
Since most of the mofussil buses stop in front of the hospital, movement of vehicles is hit during any part of the day. In the absence of pathway along the flyover and encroachment of pathway by shopkeepers on the other side, pedestrians are forced to walk on the road causing accidents.
Not only patients, but also elderly people found it difficult to cross the road, said V. Muthukumaran from Kavindapadi who came to the hospital for treatment. He said that vehicles moved at a speed of over 30 km in the hospital area making it difficult for people to cross the road. “Having two speed breakers will reduce the speed of vehicles and give time for pedestrians to cross the road,” he added.
As the road was narrow, foot overbridges could not be installed outside the hospital. Having traffic signal or traffic police personnel was also not feasible. The only solution would be installing speed breakers on E.V.N. Road near the hospital entrance, said T. Palani, a coconut seller in the hospital area. He also wanted the bus stop to be relocated from the hospital area.