After the traffic diversion due to Metrorail and flyover projects near Thirumangalam intersection, many vehicles go via the small streets of Anna Nagar. The traffic from Ambattur Industrial Estate, Red Hills and Padi take Eighteenth Main Road and Sixth Avenue to reach places such as Anna Arch and Chintamani. The traffic has increased manifold after the diversion, but the condition of the road remains bad.
According to motorists, the small stretch of Sixth Avenue in Anna Nagar West Extension needs immediate attention. The road connects First Avenue and Anna Nagar Western Extension touching the 100-Feet Road near Anna Nagar West Bus Depot. It is almost a straight road, but for a small patch, near Thangam Colony where this road passes through a narrow stretch with two crooked bends. “As the traffic is heavy, this narrow stretch calls for careful driving from vehicles passing both ways. A small stretch running parallel to the existing road is full of potholes. If this road is metalled up to the church entrance, the traffic in this single narrow road will get eased and make the passage easier for pedestrians as well,” said G. Shanmuganathan, a resident of East Main Road, Anna Nagar West Extension.
R. Aravindhan, a resident of First Block, says that the small stretch was not considered a residential locality by the Chennai Corporation. Residents were put to trouble during rainy days. If the road is black topped, the one-way traffic could be diverted via this stretch, he suggested.
The conditionof Sengunthar Street, Ayyavoo Street, Ramaiyya Street, Kanniyammal Street in Shenoy Nagar are such that they have to be black topped immediately.
Thambuswamy, a resident of Gajapathy Street, said that Metro water took up pipe laying work in their areas. But even after completion, the streets were not blacktopped properly. He said that after the traffic diversion near Thiru Vi Ka Park, the streets are always seen congested. Only after several reminders to the elected representative, a few loads of dust and stones were dumped in the dug up portion thus making the situation deplorable.
Residents of these areas want the Chennai Corporation to concentrate on these issues immediately and complete the black topping work before the onset of Monsoon.