The stretch between Eechangadu, Kovilambakkam and S. Kolathur on the arterial Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam 200ft Radial Road — which connects Grand Southern Trunk (G.S.T.) Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai (also known as IT Corridor) — is plunged into darkness after sunset. Hundreds of commuters, especially those working at the Madras Export Processing Zone, Tambaram, and IT companies on the IT Corridor, use the stretch.
Moreover, lack of lane discipline, rash driving and overtaking are common here as the traffic congestion is relatively less.
“Illumination from the name boards of commercial establishments is poor. The authorities concerned must take steps to install lampposts. My parents are worried when I take this route; it’s just too dark and I can’t even see pedestrians crossing the road,” says S. Ramya, a techie from Radha Nagar, Chromepet.
Motorists complain that they could see pedestrians only with the help of headlights of other vehicles.
At a few intersections on the stretch, light-masts have been installed, but they are of little use as they lie in a corner.
Due to lack of illumination, people are forced to take longer routes to reach their destinations.
“At night, I take the GST Road to reach my home in Pallavaram,” says R. Syed Anwar, a software engineer.
