Vehicle users taking the Besant Avenue Road are amused at the installation of pedestrian signals on the stretch near the back gate of The Theosophical Society (International Headquarters).
The signals seem to serve no purpose as no vehicle user pays any attention to them.
Many road users consider the signals a superfluity as the flow of vehicular traffic on this stretch is considerably lower than on any other thoroughfare in the neighbourhood.
“Heavy flow of vehicular traffic is witnessed only during the peak hours in the morning and evening, as motorist heading towards Adyar, Besant Nagar, and Thiruvanmiyur use the stretch to bypass Lattice Bridge Road, where traffic congestion is witnessed almost throughout the day,” says D. Krishnan, an IT professional.
It’s rare to find vehicles stopping at the pedestrian signals.
Without installing the signals, traffic police personnel or Road Safety Patrol volunteers could have been posted at the spot during the peak hours to facilitate smooth flow of vehicular traffic.
The pedestrian signals could instead have been placed near Dr. MGR-Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women, R. A. Puram, where they are more needed.
Also, on Besant Avenue Road, a couple of synthetic speed breakers are broken. They need to be replaced.
Vehicles, which come from Besant Nagar and heading towards Adyar and vice-versa, swerve right to avoid a broken speed-breaker, much to the dismay of vehicle users coming from the opposite direction.
Chennai Traffic Police officials said steps would be taken soon to re-lay the speed-breakers.