Hardly half-a-kilometre long, this Link Road connects Thiruverukadu and Poonamallee, two bustling neighbourhoods on the western outskirts, beneath the flyover in Nazarathpet.
The 60-feet-wide bitumen road has a high-raised concrete median with zebra markings on it and pedestrian-crossings at regular intervals.
There is enough space on both sides of the road for provision of footpath and stormwater drains in the future.
Despite its safety facilities, the road is avoided like the plague by motorists, after sunset. Lack of street lamps is the reason for this.
A blame game seems to be going on between the State Highways Department and the local bodies Thiruverukadu and Poonamallee municipalities with regard to who is responsible for installation of street lamps on the stretch..
“Link Road is wide throughout and convenient for even lorries and buses to pass through it. The only problem is poor illumination, dueto which drivers of lorries and buses find it difficult to spot motorists,” says S. Vinoth, a motorist from Porur.
Even if a road is maintained by the State Highways Department, as per norms, the street lamps have to be installed and maintained by the respective local body.
Officials of Thiruverukadu and Poonamallee municipalities cite lack of funds for not installing street lamps on Link Road. The stretch is also a key entry-cum-exit point for vehicles coming from the neighbouring districts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.
“Steps will be taken to install street lamps on the stretch at the earliest,” says a State Highways official.
