When the elevated Metro Rail tracks were being constructed at Meenambakkam on GST Road , motorists were at a disadvantage. The intersection of Pandian Street and GST Road in Meenambakkam was blocked, which meant motorists could not take a right-turn at the junction.
Currently, motorists heading towards Rajiv Gandhi Street are forced to take a u-turn at the intersection of Chennai International Airport (Domestic Terminal).
“Covering a distance of around two kilometres to take a u-turn is a waste of time and fuel,” says A. Vignesh, a longtime resident of Meenambakkam and a social activist.
V. Rama Rao, director, Traffic and Transportation Forum, Chennai, agrees: “It is indeed unfair to force motorists to travel a distance of two kilometres to take a u-turn.”C. Geetha, a college professor and a motorist, points out that creation of the roadblock is unnecessary.
“Distances between the concrete pillars are so considerable that even heavy vehicles can easily take a turn there. Yet, the path is blocked with boulders for reasons unknown to us.”
However, according to the State Highways Department officials, a right-turn at the intersection will affect free movement of vehicular traffic, and there shouldn’t be many intersections on a National Highway.
