It’s like old times, at Anna Nagar. A week ago, a new traffic arrangement was introduced in the locality, which essentially meant that two-way traffic was restored on key stretches, including Second Avenue Road and Fourth Avenue Road. These stretches had been made one-way to facilitate Metro Rail work, which began in the region in December, 2011.
In the coming months, residents expect to see the restoration of wide-tiled footpaths, traffic signals and pedestrian crossings. They also expect better illumination and avenue trees to be planted.
The Hindu Downtown caught up with Rupesh Kumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Anna Nagar Police District, to learn about the plans for the neighbourhood.
It’s a week since two-way traffic system was restored. Have motorists got used to the new system?
The two-way traffic system was re-introduced on February 2, after a gap of six years, when Metro Rail work began in the locality. As they have been experiencing a one-way traffic system for six years, it will take some time for them to get used to the change. If you have not already noticed it, we introduced the new traffic system on Thursday (mid-week) to allow the new system to settle during the weekend, when vehicular movement will be less heavy.
What are the other steps you took to avoid confusion?
We had a series of joint meetings with various stakeholders, including Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Greater Chennai Corporation, Tangedco and Chennai Metro Rail, about allowing two-way traffic on key stretches in the neighbourhood to decongest Poonamallee High (PH) Road. Following these meetings which threw up many suggestions, we took many small measures, including placement of concrete medians on key stretches such as Second Avenue Road; re-laying roads up to the extended portion; and replacing multiple parking with single parking on key stretches. These steps were taken to ensure smooth traffic when the two-way system was re-introduced.
Did you hold any meetings with residents’ welfare associations?
We informed all the residents about the new traffic system. Local police officers were in touch with residents to create awareness about the new traffic system.
It is said that working traffic signals, zebra crossings for pedestrians, reflectors and sign boards were not in place on key stretches, including Second Avenue Road, at the time of the introduction of two-way traffic system. This, it’s said, was the reason for the chaos experienced on day one. What do you have to say about this?
We are currently working with various other State agencies, including MTC and Chennai Corporation, to create basic safety facilities such as signboards at key bus stops, including Blue Star bus stop; operating two-way bus services and increasing the presence of traffic policemen at important junctions. We are also planning to install new traffic signals at three key spots — Ayyapan temple, Blue Star junction and Anna roundtana on Second Avenue Road. Regarding better illumination on the key stretches, we are in talks with officials of Greater Chennai Corporation.
What is the volume of vehicular traffic on those stretches where two-way traffic system has been restored?
As per our estimates, more than 8,000 vehicles pass through Second Avenue Road alone, during rush hour. We have increased the presence of traffic policemen by 10 per cent there. In other words, 45 traffic policemen are on duty to regulate traffic there, since the introduction of the new traffic system.
Will starting of Chennai Metro Rail services from Anna Nagar have an impact on the overall traffic situation in the neighbourhood?
It’ll certainly have an impact. Once Metro Rail work gets fully completed in Anna Nagar, traffic on key stretches including Second Avenue Road will come down, as we expect a portion of the motorists, mainly local residents, to travel by the Metro. The entire Metro Rail work in Anna Nagar is expected to get completed in eight months.
Do you have comprehensive and customised plans for traffic management for neighbourhoods in the region, especially for Anna Nagar?
We cannot have customised plans for each neighbourhood, as all these neighbourhoods are connected to each other and influence each other. Their traffic system is interlinked too. Changes can be effected only across a group of neighbourhoods. As I said earlier, our aim is to decongest PH Road by diverting some of the vehicles to key interior stretches such as Second Avenue Road in Anna Nagar. Once the PH Road is decongested, neighbourhoods around the stretch will have easy flow of traffic. To de-congest PH Road, we introduced “Free Left” from NSK Salai and Anna Arch Main Road to PH Road on a pilot basis in January this year. We also allow motorists to take a “right turn” at West Naduvankarai ‘T’ junction on PH Road for them to reach Anna Nagar, Tirumangalam and areas beyond it.
