Safety campaign launched after IT professional's fatal accident in Kochi

According to a report by The Hindu, a multi-pronged campaign has been launched by a group of professionals at Infopark, Kochi, to ensure traffic safety in the area around the campus. This step has been taken following the death of a young IT professional in a recent accident.

The digital signature campaign launched by 'Progressive Techies', a group of IT professionals in the state, has received over 4,000 signatures in a single day. The group is also exploring legal remedies to resolve daily traffic issues in the area, which pose a serious safety hazard to both commuters and pedestrians.

The new phase of the campaign was launched following the death of 28-year-old Akshara A., who was working as a senior consultant at EY. On Wednesday, while returning home after a gym session at IMG Junction, Kakkanad, she was allegedly struck by a speeding bus, resulting in her tragic death.

In memory of Akshara, a candle-light vigil, or candle march, was organized by employees of various companies at Infopark on Thursday evening. Aneesh Panthaloorani, co-founder of Progressive Techies, stated that the main demand of their campaign is to remove encroachments on the road from IMG Junction to Infopark Road and to make it safe for motorists as well as pedestrians. This route is often so congested that there is not enough space for pedestrians.

He added that they are targeting at least 20,000 signatures for their campaign, and once this target is achieved, they will submit their representation to authorities including the District Collector, Chief Minister, and the Public Works Minister. He also stated that the condition of most major roads around the tech campus is similar, including areas like Pallikkara and Edachira, which are frequently used by tech professionals.

According to Aneesh Panthaloorani, the possibility of filing a public interest litigation to find a permanent solution is also being explored. IT professionals have frequently fallen victim to accidents on the roads around the tech campus due to various factors, including the menace of stray dogs.

Following Akshara's demise, the Infopark chapter of the All India Professionals Congress (AIPC) has also launched a campaign. A 'Listening Circle' will be organized by this chapter on the campus on Friday evening, giving employees an opportunity to share their concerns regarding traffic safety.

AIPC District President Eldho Chirakkalchalil stated that safety concerns have been brought to the attention of the Home Minister and the Transport Minister by AIPC, and strict action has been demanded against the driver at fault in the fatal accident. Following this tragedy, concerns regarding road safety have grown in Kochi's IT sector, and intensive efforts have been initiated by organizations.