In March 2017, four sodium vapour lights were installed at the defunct high-mast lamp at the SIDCO Nagar junction in Villivakkam on Chennai–Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road.
This was meant only as a stopgap arrangement that would last till the high mast lamp was repaired.
The stopgap arrangement has lasted longer than expected. Not only that, this arrangement now does not serve its purpose. It is more than a fortnight since the sodium vapour lamps became defunct due to a technical snag.
As a result, the stretch is now shrouded in darkness at night.
This section is already accident-prone and lack of illumination is adding to the risk factor.
However, taking note of the plight of road users passing through this section, as highlighted in an article published in The Hindu Downtown , Corporation officials are now taking remedial measures.
Local Corporation officials say they have sent a proposal to the Greater Chennai Corporation to ensure the old high mast lamp, including its bulbs. is replaced, as the existing high mast lamp has been repaired twice and on both occasions, became defunct within a few weeks
This work would approximately cost ₹24 lakh.
“Also, the temporary sodium vapour lights were dim, with the bulbs in them often getting fused, necessitating replacements. In fact, the bulbs were replaced twice. However, the new high mast lamp will be replaced with bright lights. Till then, the defunct sodium vapour lamps will be repaired as an alternative measure,” says an official.
The CTH Road, a state highway, is a four-lane stretch that connects key areas such as Avadi, Ambattur Old Town (OT), Padi, Perambur and Kilpauk. SIDCO Nagar lies between Padi and Villivakkam, a stretch that is less congested compared to other stretches and provides easy connectivity to prime locales in the city, thus making it a most frequented area.
What contributes to the danger is the absence of median from the ramp of the Padi flyover and the junction, making it easy for traffic violators to cross the stretch at any spot than at the junction, which has provision to take a ‘U’ turn. For pedestrians, such traffic violations could prove risky due to low visibility.
What's more, the junction does not have traffic policemen and the traffic signal at the spot has been defunct for many months.
