Residents and motorists have been demanding that the Greater Chennai Corporation construct a concrete median between Tirumangalam and Mogappair on Ambattur Industrial Estate Road.
A portion of this road, which includes the point near Bharat Petroleum, lacks a median. As a result, motorcyclists take a ‘U’ turn abruptly instead of heading to the designated ‘U’ point near traffic signal along the stretch.
For years, motorists coming from Tirumangalam, on the Ambatur Industrial Estate Road, used to take a ‘U’ turn abruptly at the traffic signal in front of the BP oil outlet to reach interior areas in Mogappair including Officers’ Colony. This had resulted in accidents involving vehicles coming from the opposite direction (Ambattur Industrial Estate, Nolambur and Padi).
Further, with prominent schools, including Velammal School, DAV Boys and Girls schools, located near the traffic signal, schoolchildren get injured when motorists take a ‘U’ turn without a green signal.
“The traffic point in front of the BP outlet is a nightmare, especially for pedestrians, as many motorists violate traffic rules there,” says V. Sukumar, a resident in Mogappair.
A few years ago, a team of traffic police personnel, led by a senior traffic police officer, erected similar steel barricades in front of the outlet to prevent motorists from taking an abrupt ‘U’ turn. In a week-long drive, police slapped a hefty fine on hundreds of motorists who violated traffic rules there.
However, due to the necessity of having these police personnel attend to traffic problems elsewhere on the stretch and on the Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Main Road, they were withdrawn from the point near the BP outlet on Ambattur Industrial EstateRoad.
Lack of traffic policemen has encouraged motorists to return to the old practice of taking an abrupt ‘U’ turn at this point.
With increased pressure from residential associations, including those involving Anna Nagar West (Phase – II) Residents Welfare Association and the school authorities, traffic police personnel again initiated steps, including erection of barricades in front of the BP outlet.
However, a portion of the stretch from the BP petrol pump does not have a concrete median allowing motorists to jump onto the opposite lane risking vehicles from the opposite direction.
“Steps will be taken to construct a concrete median on the stretch soon,” says a Corporation official.
