For over a decade, motorists and pedestrians taking Station Border Road in Chromepet are waiting for a solution. The stretch lacks proper illumination, despite being busy through the day, providing connectivity to densely-populated localities in Chitlapakkam and Chromepet, which include Rajendra Prasad Road, Hasthinapuram, Chitlapakkam Main Road, Radha Nagar and Nehru Nagar. The road comes under the jurisdiction of Pallavapuram Municipality and Southern Railway. The tube lights are installed and maintained by Southern Railway.
V. Santhanam, president, Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavapuram and secretary of Chromepet Rail Users Forum, said, “After sunset, it’s difficult to use this road. Besides being poorly-lit, the road is damaged at many points, especially in its middle portion, gets inundated easily and is slippery, following a rain. The stretch is now being used as an open toilet.”
After sunset, some motorists and motorists take the Grand Southern Trunk Road and Madras Institute of Technology flyover and its service lanes, to avoid using this stretch. When it rains, due to the water-logged points, the road is narrow. There is no space for pedestrians to walk on the road and they are forced to walk on the carriageway.
Despite poor road conditions and lack of illumination, motorists throw caution to the wind and engage in reckless driving. To avoid the damaged points on the stretch, some motorists take a zig-zag course, to the discomfort of the pedestrians and motorists coming in the opposite direction. While walking on the stretch, pedestrians have to be careful not to be knocked down by speeding motorists.
Besides this, near the intersection of Chitlapakkam Main Road and Station Border Road, there are no street lamps for a distance of more than 500 metres. The stretch near the intersection comes under the jurisdiction of Pallavapuram Municipality and is laid with paver blocks.
“Despite the issue having been raised with the Southern Railway several times, no action has been taken. Nor have we received any replies to the petitions,” he pointed out.
