Chennai: The intersection of Second Main Road and Eight Cross Street, Shenoy Nagar has always been a troublesome place in the neighbourhood as vehicles pass through the junction at high speed causing real trouble for pedestrians and other motorists. Sadly only one speed-breaker is installed here.
A S Arul, vice-president of Shenoy Nagar Welfare Association, says that vehicles pass through the intersection at such high speeds that pedestrians who use the junction are at a high risk of getting hit by them. During peak hours, over 30 vehicles cross this intersection every minute.
“The main reason for pedestrian inconvenience is motorists come here at high speeds and they find it difficult to stop for walkers or do not bother to stop for road crossers,” he adds.
“There is need for regulation of traffic here for the safety of all,” feels Gopalakrishnan, a motorist. It is not only pedestrians but also motorists who are at risk owing to high speeding. Children going to schools and tuitions are at higher risk at the intersection, he added.
“Children cross the road at the intersection to reach either Second Avenue or Seventh Cross Street and most of the time owing to their age are not vigilant about vehicles passing through the intersection,” mentions Siva, a resident. “They cross the roads chatting with their friends. There is a possibility of a fatal mishap here,” he adds.
The chances of accidents have only increased owing to lack of regulation on speeding. With motors at high speeds and not willing to stop at the intersection senior citizens are at a greater risk, said, Saraswathi, a vendor. Recently, an aged women, who worked in a hospital nearby, had succumbed to accident, she added.
Parthasarathy, another resident, feels that the best way to regulate the vehicle speed is constructing more speed breakers. A traffic constable, says, “Most of the motorists passes through this stretch to avoid Chinthamani Signal, so the number of vehicles increased. Too many speed-breakers will also bring danger to motorists. Hence, I request my higher officials to construct one more speed-breaker and install more light reflectors to warn the motorists.”