Garbage dumped along airport road stretch raises safety concerns

Madurai: Garbage dumped along several stretches of the road from the Avaniyapuram bypass junction on Aruppukottai Main Road to Perungudi has become a safety hazard, attracting stray cattle and posing risks to motorists.Commuters travelling to and from the airport said waste piles on both sides of the road present a poor image of the city to visitors. Though the road itself is well maintained, empty plots along the stretch are being used for dumping rubbish. "Even though the road is well-maintained, the surrounding areas are not. Several vacant plots have turned into garbage dumps," said S Siva, a taxi driver. He pointed out that waste was even dumped near a signboard put up by the Madurai Corporation warning of fines for illegal dumping. Motorists said the garbage attracts stray cattle, increasing the risk of accidents on the busy stretch where vehicles often travel at high speeds. "Cars and bikes move very fast on this road. When cattle suddenly appear on the road, drivers are forced to brake abruptly," said Anand, a two-wheeler rider, recalling an incident in which a calf ran across the road in panic, nearly colliding with a motorbike. Besides plastic waste, construction debris was also found dumped at several spots, adding to dust and pollution in the area. A senior corporation official said surveillance would be stepped up to curb illegal dumping. "We are imposing fines of around ₹25,000 for dumping waste across the city," the official said, adding that the stray cattle-catching team would conduct operations in the area once the waste was cleared. MSID:: 129590641 413 |