One of the busiest stretches in the city, linking city suburbs Madipakkam, Puzhuthivakkam, Ullagaram and Kovilambakkam with metropolitian areas, is Medavakkam Main Road, Chennai.
Over the years, it is one of those roads that people take in order to reach their destinations on time. But since last year, traffic on the 1.5 km stretch started reducing, reports Mathiazhagan, who resides there. He blames the delay in road-widening works that are on at the stretch for hindering traffic flow, and also declares the stretch is prone to accidents, since the EB poles are now at the centre of the widened road.
Motorists, who take this stretch after the sun sets, may get involved in accidents, adds Mathiazhagan pointing towards the electric poles and transformer present on the road.
When News Today took a ride on the road, this reporter noticed a few things, the first of which was unsafe for any motorist. Authorities, in their bid to extend the road, have laid fresh tarmac for one half (of the same lane), while the other half is yet to receive it. This means while on the lane, one half is raised higher than the other.
Asked about this, motorists and residents said, “If one takes a ride from Keelkattalai Bus Terminus to Vanuvampet Junction, s/he can find half of the lane at a different height that the other in the distance between Pathala Vinayagar Temple and Vanuvampet Odai. Added to this, there are no platforms for pedestrians and there are encroachments on the right side of the road, that further irk motorists.”
On the other hand, a few residents feel the new road will tackle better issues surrounding vehicular movement.
How it all started?
The on-going widening works at Medavakkam Main Road started last year, after the State Highways Department paid the landowners to lift the stay on proceedings that delayed the widening works for decades. Soon works started with the authorities clearing encroachments, demolishing occupied establishments. The proceedings took more than 10 months since there were issues like land acquisition.
What residents want?
Residents want the authorities to kick-start the pending widening works at Keelkattalai area and proceed to lay platforms along the stretch on both sides, instal underground EB cables, replace the EB poles to the sides, instal traffic signals. They also want a zebra crossing at Sabari Road Junction, and a traffic cop appointed at the spot to monitor traffic flow.
Article by: Balamurugan Selvaraj