Keelkattalai junction flyover slows down traffic

Chennai: The ongoing construction of the flyover at the junction of Medavakkam Road and Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Road  has been going on at a fast pace, but increased development has not only caused traffic congestion, but also led to minor accidents daily.

Vehicles bound for Kovilamabakkam, Velachery and Keelkattalai get stuck in traffic congestion at Echankadu junction for hours. Lack of medians in the other end of stretch connecting Puzhuthivakkam and Vanuvampet also irks commuters.

“The construction work that started a year ago has narrowed space available for motorists to drive. The road used to be an easy route to reach Guindy, Madipakkam and other areas, but the commuters strain due to traffic congestion in peak hours now,” said Kishore V, a resident of Keelkatalai.

Ambulance drivers and patients visiting hospitals in the vicinity including Kamakshi Memorial hospital lament that they get stuck for hours in traffic during emergency hours.  Debris from construction work that remains scattered on the road also affects motorists.

“Especially after rains, the bike skids as plastics, wires along with other debris lies uncleared. It is difficult for pedestrians to walk as the road turns slushy due to mounds on mud lying on the roadsides,” M. Mohan, a regular commuter on the stretch said. The stretch remains an accident zone, mainly at night hours due to broken highway lights stumped here.

While the traffic police officers blame it on state highways department for the troubles caused to commuters, officials from the state highways department said, “We are trying to complete work at a fast pace so that these public gets rid of such problems soon. However, we expect other departments to cooperate to facilitate commuters as the flyover construction work goes on.”