A portion of the 20-km-long Chennai–Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road (between Pattabiram and Padi) was widened as part of the Rs. 98 crore project by the state highways department. However, the electricity poles and transformers on the stretch have not been shifted, putting motorists at risk especially during night. With the width of the road having increased on certain sections, many poles and transformers now stand awkwardly and dangerously in the middle of the stretch.
For the past few months, the state highways department, the executive agency of the multi-crore project, is widening the CTH Road at different locations depending on the availability of land along the stretch. Bitumen was laid on most of the widened portion of the stretch except at a few spots including the area opposite the Thirumullavoyal police station, where the state highways department has to construct wide channels for the existing drainage lines.
Several poles including the one near the Thirumullavoyal police station is now leaning on to the road. As the pole is located at the curve-bend, motorists are at high risk. As CTH Road has many narrow bends, motorists find it difficult to locate these poles from a distance.
One transformer, in particular, is found in the middle of the road at Kavarpalaiyam near Anjaneyar temple. “Without removing these poles, there is no purpose of expanding the road as motorists are unable to use the expanded space due to the dangerous obstructions,” said T. Sadagopan, a social activist from Pattabiram.
Traffic policemen said that in the past few months instances of motorists hitting these poles had become frequent. Due to poor lighting in most of these areas, the CTH Road has become a death trap for motorists especially those who ride two-wheelers. Further, the stretch is a vital link for container lorries and heavy vehicles coming from neighbouring districts like Tiruvallur, Vellore, and big towns like Arakkonam and Tirutani; sharp headlights from these vehicles hinders the view of two-wheeler riders.
State highways officials blame Tangedco officials for lack of cooperation despite the fact that shifting charges have not been paid to Tangedco to have the existing poles and transformers relocated. On the other hand, Tangedco officials say that the state highways should remove street lights that are fixed in some of the poles along the stretch before the state electricity agency could remove the poles and transformers. “The problem lies in lack of coordination and understanding between the two state agencies. It will be better if they solve the issue soon,” said a state highways official.
