Chennai: Let's stop taking diversion

Chennai: Several stretches of arterial roads of Chennai were converted into one-way to facilitate Chennai metro rail construction. Now with metro rail commencing operations for more than 15 km, motorists are demanding the restoration of two-way traffic flow. Motorists and those living in those areas complain that they are forced to take a detour at Ega theatre junction on Poonamallee high road, Udayam theatre junction on 100 feet road and Halda junction in Guindy. They also say the government should not allow escalation of their fuel bills despite achieving the purpose for which one-way was created.

Both police and metro rail sources confirmed that the motorists may have to undergo the detour for some more months as there are no immediate plans to restore the two-way traffic flow on PH Road and Anna Salai. Metro rail sources said that finishing works at the metro entry and exit points will take another two months hinting that the motorists have to suffer one-way traffic till then.

“The vehicles plying along Poonamallee high road (PH road) are diverted near Chetpet Gengu Reddy subway to reach Shoppers stop signal and then take Chetpet bridge to reach Ega theatre junction to proceed towards Koyambedu. This is about a 3.5-kilometre detour for a motorist from PH road proceeding towards Koyambedu. For a month this comes around 40 km detour and I spend four to five litres extra diesel because of this diversion” explains T. Ezhumalai, a driver working for a law firm in Arumbakkam.    

When contacted, a senior traffic police officer acknowledged that motorists sometimes have to take a longer route than usual. “Our primary concern is the effective flow of traffic within the limitations we have, But, it’s not something we can do much about. The continuous flow of traffic, we feel, is better than a gridlock,” the officer said. Asked about the complaints from locals, the official claimed that opinions of the residents and the local traffic enforcement wing are taken into consideration before enforcing traffic diversions.

Major one-way diversions and detour

• Vehicles plying along Poonamallee high road (PH road) are diverted near Chetpet Gengu Reddy subway to reach Shoppers stop signal and then take Chetpet bridge to reach Ega theatre junction to proceed towards Koyambedu. This is about a 3.5 kilometre detour for a motorist from PH road proceeding towards Koyambedu.
• Vehicles plying from Saidapet to Guindy are forced to go right towards Raj Bhavan and then take left to reach Guindy Halda junction. Similarly, vehicles coming from Guindy to reach Anna University have to take a detour of three kilometres extra.
• Vehicles coming from Anna Salai are forced to take a left at GP road as the metro underground work is progressing near LIC-TVS bus depot stretch. This is about a 2.5-km detour for motorists.

Halda junction continues to be nightmare
Halda junction that connects Anna Salai Road and Sardar Patel Road, being an arterial road is a nightmare for commuters. Last year, three students of the Chellammal Women’s College were run over by a water tanker. Only after the college complained about the safety of its students did the authorities install a traffic signal to make it easy for pedestrians to cross the road, said the college authorities to DC.
 
Meena S, a software professional who uses the route to the office said that to reach Sardar Patel Road is hard due to the traffic especially during office hours. An overbridge would be helpful she added. However, when Chellammal College asked for an overbridge or a subway the authorities made it clear that iyt is not  feasible.

V Vasanthi, a student of Chellammal College,  said that the situation is better now. Crossing Anna Salai is easy, but Sardar Patel road traffic needs to be regulated,  she added.

Shah Jahan, an auto driver,  said that he has to wait for a long time in the traffic to cross the junction and felt that the number of cars has outnumbered other vehicles and regulation is necessary to ease traffic.

 Ajith and Anbuselvan, both students of the Brilliant ITI training institute felt that if the number of seconds has to be increased at the traffic signal. Otherwise, pedestrians have to rush through the crossing.