Latest news with #P.Ayyarappan
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Time of India
Free bus rides linked to rising footboard travel
It's around 8 am, and the all-too-familiar scene of crowded govt buses with students clinging perilously out of them come into view on Trichy city roads. Notwithstanding the advent of buses fitted with automatic doors, students continue to travel on footboards, putting their lives at risk. Commuting is more challenging for students travelling from suburban and rural areas. But why this overcrowding when around 278 of the 430 buses plying in the Trichy region of TNSTC Kumbakonam division operate in the city? "Due to the combination of free services, the number of people travelling in govt buses has increased over the past four years," says an official of the division. Free travel on govt buses for students began in Tamil Nadu in 1996, while for women, it was introduced in 2021 under Magalir Vidiyal Payanam. With the increase in passenger numbers, there is a corresponding demand for more buses. Transportation activists say the shortage is compelling students to get accustomed to footboard travel. "Though free bus service is a noble service, it is imperative to increase the fleet to ensure footboard travel is ruled out," says P. Ayyarappan, founder, Road User Welfare Trust. "Some students, mostly boys aged 15 to 17, do not follow our advice. They do it for the sake of thrill though seats are available," says R Selvam, a bus conductor. "Except for buses that are nearing condemnation, we have fitted automatic doors on all the buses," says D Sathish Kumar, general manager of Trichy region of TNSTC Kumbakonam division. However, the fact remains that due to the crowd, the doors remain open on many buses. Officials told TOI that they have posted officers, checking inspectors, and driving inspectors at important peripheral loading points and toll plazas during during peak hours. They monitor footboard travellers, especially school and college students and ensure that bus doors remain closed. Activists sought increased frequency of buses on routes with overcrowding. "TNSTC should survey the routes where students travel in large numbers and operate special buses during peak hours, or increase the number of buses on the route," says Ayyarappan. K Dasarathan, managing director, TNSTC, says they call bus drivers for refreshment training if they commit errors. "If students are at fault, we bring it to the notice of school headmasters and sensitise them during morning prayers," says he. He added that TNSTC staff visit schools periodically to counsel students in the presence of teachers to create awareness.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Continuing accidents turn the spotlight on greenfield project plan for Tiruchi-Karur Highway
The road accident causing the death of the Revenue Divisional Officer of Musiri on the Tiruchi-Karur Highway on Thursday has brought to the fore the demand for building a greenfield highway between the two cities. Activists have expressed concern that there was no sign of accidents coming down even after the State Highways Department widened the stretch a few years ago. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had widened the Tiruchi-Karur Highway beyond Thindukarai several years ago. A bypass was to be laid between Panjapur on Tiruchi-Madurai highway and Thindukarai. The 11-km stretch from Thindukarai to Tiruchi, with sharp and dangerous curves, was widened from its earlier width of seven metres to up to 10.5 metres under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme 2019-20. However, accidents continue unabated on the road, the most recent one claiming the life of the senior Revenue Department Officer at Kadiyakurichi near Jeeeyapuram. Locals cite overspeeding as the main reason for accidents. Commuters traversing the stretch every day face the brunt of the problem. Accidents are frequent in Jeeyapuram and Pettavaithalai police station limits. 'The widening of the stretch does not seem have to helped bring down accidents,' said P. Ayyarappan, a member of District Road Safety Council and president, Road Users Welfare Association. There has been a number of accidents involving barricades, which are placed to force the vehicles to slow down, at various places, he said. Conceding that there was a need to give a push to the greenfield highway project as a long term measure, Mr. Ayyarappan suggested that medians could be built wherever possible in the meantime. 'There is enough space to widen the road by another two metres on either side at various stretches of the highway,' Mr. Ayyarappan said. Once the Panjapur-Thindukarai bypass is built, traffic density is bound to increase beyond Thindukarai. Speed guns should be installed and overspeeding should be penalised. Besides, highway patrolling by the police should be intensified, he added. Although the NHAI is preparing a detailed project report for the greenfield highway from Tiruchi to Karur, it has been progressing at a slow pace. The new alignment is planned 'at an offset of 12 to 13 km from the existing highway.' However, according to sources, the DPR is expected to be completed in another 10 to 12 months. Plea rejected The NHAI had rejected a plea from the public to develop an alternative road between Allithurai and Mayanur Tollgate. N. Jamaluddin, a civic activist, said the NHAI, in a reply to his petition on the matter in September 2024, had said that the task of preparing the DPR for the greenfield highway had been given to a Hyderabad agency in December 2017. 'The DPR preparation is taking such a long time while fatal accidents are taking place every other week so much so that we are forced to avoid the highway. The NHAI should expedite the process,' he said. The plan was discussed at the recent meeting of District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee by Tiruchi and Karur MPs Durai Vaiko and S. Jothimani and both had promised to take up the matter, Mr. Ayyarappan said. At a press conference on Thursday, Mr. Durai Vaiko said he would take up the issue with the NHAI officials soon.
