Ranchi: Residents and shopkeepers of OCC Compound and adjoining areas close to the BSNL office near Upper Bazar in ward 20 here have complained that despite frequent accidents and cases of rash driving, urban development minister and Ranchi MLA C.P. Singh, councillor Sunil Yadav and Ranchi Municipal Corporation officials did nothing to address their problems.

Amit Kumar (25), a resident of OCC Compound who is currently preparing for job interviews, said rash driving had become a menace in their area which led to minor accidents almost daily.

"Three days ago, an eight-year-old girl suffered head injuries after she was hit by a speeding bike. We rushed her to sadar hospital where she was given a few stitches," Kumar told The Telegraph.

Kumar said on Wednesday, a group of around 50 people submitted a memorandum to the urban development minister demanding speed-breakers in the area, which has a mix of residential and commercial establishments. The minister, however, didn't assure anything, he claimed.

K.C. Dey, a teacher at LEBB High School in OCC compound, said the area is used as a bypass by commuters while going from Main Road to Harmu, Ranchi Lake or Kishoreganj.

"Three roads - Lalji Hirji Road, SN Ganguly Road and Radheshayam Road - connect OCC Compound with Main Road. Since Main Road is busy most of the time, people use the area as a bypass," he added.

Dey said since the compound area is always busy with traffic, teachers and students have a lot of problems while commuting.

"Earlier, there were speed breakers on both sides of the road outside the school gate. A year ago, all locality roads were renovated and widened and the speed-breakers done away with. Although we got rid of potholes, smooth roads led to frequent accidents. I narrowly escaped accidents many times while coming out of the school as vehicles move in top gear. Students of our school also face the same problems," he added.