“Vehicles coming from Mahalingapuram flyover to Vadapalani must take the left towards Habibullah Road and then right to Sadhasivam Road, again right to Bazullah Road to take the Rangarajapuram flyover, then a right to reach Chakarapani Street, Five Light, drive down Vishwanathapuram Main Road to reach Liberty to finally join the Arcot Road.”
If it is difficult to comprehend this route diversion even while you are just reading about it, think how someone unaware of the changes or new to the locality would feel about travelling from Mahalingapuram to Vadapalani.
On how she was once trapped in this maze, Ranjani says, “I had come to meet my relatives in Vadapalani after a long time. What used to be an easy journey from my house in Nungambakkam turned out to be a totally confusing affair after the diversion. I didn’t know the interiors of T. Nagar, so went round and round before managing to reach Arcot Road. I am not planning to travel down the same route for some time now.”
But, as they say, there is always a silver lining. At least, for some people. Take Arumugam, who used to take an auto to reach the nearest bus stop to go to Valasaravakkam, his place of work. After the route change, this resident of Rangarajapuram gets to board a bus right outside his house. “Some people’s loss is other people’s gain. Those living on Kodambakkam High Road have lost the Periayar Street bus stand, but residents of West Mambalam and Rangarajapuram now have many buses plying through the area. This is one good thing the diversion has done for the neighbourhood,” he says.
Another area which people want to keep away from is Harrington Road, where concrete-topping of the road is being carried out. Vehicles bound for E.V.R. Periyar Salai from Chetpet junction cannot take the subway due to the ongoing work. With the intersection of 15th Avenue and Harrington Road closed for any traffic, residents have to take 3rd Lane of McNichols Road and travel through Dr. Gurusamy Bridge and E.V.R. Periyar Salai to reach Harrington Road. Vehicles going to Harrington subway from Chetpet junction have been diverted through Dr. Gurusamy Bridge and E.V.R. Periyar Salai to reach Harrington Road.
“People will not complain if the work is completed on time. The inordinate delays makes life hell for commuters,” says a resident of Chetpet.
From the time the Metro Rail project got under way, a one-way plan has put life out of gear for the residents of Ashok Nagar. The 1st Avenue was made one-way with entry for vehicles allowed only from Ashok Pillar junction. The stretch of 11th Avenue from the junction of 1st Avenue to the Inner Ring Road junction was also made ‘one way’ with entry for vehicles allowed only from Ashok Nagar 1st Avenue. The Udhayam theatre junction was also made one-way. It took a long time before commuters got comfortable with the modifications.
