Pedestrians accustomed to using the service lane attached to the Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), foot-over-bridge on the eastern side of the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, have requested the authorities concerned to make the lane accessible for pedestrians. They complain of the rampant encroachment on this lane, which is near Station Road, Tambaram Sanitorium.
“The service lane is meant for pedestrians, but customers of the commercial establishments use it as a parking space for their vehicles and vendors have set up shops there. Motorists use the stretch to reach West Tambaram, Chromepet and Tambaram Sanatorium. Therefore, pedestrians are forced to climb the staircase of the FOB staircase or use the escalator,” K. Padma, a resident of Chitlapakkam, said.
As per the traffic plan, vehicle users coming from Station Road and the Sanatorium flyover must enter GST Road and take a u-turn at the MEPZ signal to reach Chromepet.
But, the two-wheelers use the congested service lane and converge on the MEPZ signal, which leads to utter traffic chaos. Therefore, motorists and pedestrians proceeding towards the eastern side of GST Road and West Tambaram, are clueless about the approaching vehicles. “This problem started only after the ‘crossing’ at the intersection of GST Road and Station Road was closed by placing barricades,” A. Kamakshi, a resident, said.
