Poor traffic regulation and arrangement, including lack of traffic signal at the intersection of the new flyover in Moolakadai near Perambur, puts motorists and pedestrians at risk for accidents.
The intersection connects Grand Northern Trunk (GNT) Road, Madhavaram High Road, Tondiarpet High Road and Kamaraj Road. Every day, hundreds of goods-laden vehicles from adjoining districts such as Tiruvallur and Vellore and also from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka reach Chennai Port using GNT Road and Moolakadai flyover. Further, motorists from many neighbourhoods including Madhavaram, Vysarpadi, Retteri, Red Hills, Sembium and MKB Nagar use the intersection to reach the city via Perambur.
The intersection gets chaotic during rush hour with parents taking their children to schools, located in Perambur, using Kamaraj Road. “It is a nightmare for many parents like me to cross the intersection with our children,” said K. Sivakumar, a resident of Sembium.
Before the opening of the flyover, traffic policemen were deployed at the intersection to regulate traffic as the construction work at the flyover might block the flow of vehicles. Traffic policemen were deployed at the intersection also because traffic was diverted on the narrow service lanes of the flyover. However, after the flyover was inaugurated, traffic policemen are not to be seen. “Due to shortage of policemen, we had to withdraw traffic policemen from the intersection. Along with the State Highways Department, we will soon install traffic signals and have zebra crossings at the intersection. We will also deploy traffic policemen at least during rush hour,” said a police officer.
