There may be many things good about Indira Nagar Second Avenue. Pedestrian safety is however not one of them. To call the road pathetic is an understatement. The stretch is poorly illuminated. Walkers’ space has been eaten up by encroachments. In some places, it is non-existent. It is also made unusable due to delays in completion of development works.
The road, which was dug up for sewage pumping work by the Chennai Metrowater, has not been levelled. “It is over a month, yet half the width of the road is still unusable,” says Mani, a resident.
Therefore, pedestrians using the stretch have mastered the art of walking in the middle of the road, dodging vehicles. Not all of them pull off this feat all the time.
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With the monsoon having set in, residents are angry that the road has not been levelled yet. “It will be worse when it rains. Water stagnates in the dents, left by vehicle tyres, on the mounds of soil. Moreover, leaves from the trees whither and get accumulated in the dents. Many a time, I have seen scorpions there,” says a vendor who sells fruits.
He also points to one end of the road (towards Lattice Bridge Road) where many potholes are found.
The stretch also requires better illumination.
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“Some of the lamp posts don’t work. Moreover, there are many trees on the stretch which obstruct the light from the existing lamp posts. We don’t want the trees to be chopped, but suggest that a few additional lamp posts be installed.”
The pedestrian space is also encroached upon.
“Many a time, private buses can be found parked along the road,” she adds.
Another issue is non-functioning of traffic signals.
“There are five posts at the junction of Second Avenue and First Avenue but none seems to function. During the rush hour, it is chaotic here. At least, a traffic policeman can be deployed,” says another resident.
A Corporation official said that the stretch would be levelled within two months.