Residents avoid this stretch like the plague

The relatively-free stretch provides easy access to Tambaram Sanatorium, Chitlapakkam and Hasthinapuram.

From Perialwar Street, the stretch is narrow. At several points, the condition of the road is bad. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Vehicle users commuting through Bharatha Matha Street, East Tambaram, find it difficult to negotiate the stretch as it often enveloped in thick darkness due to lack of street lights.

The stretch, running for nearly 3km, starts from Sundaram Colony, Perialwar Street, Tambaram East, and goes up to Velachery Main Road.

From Perialwar Street, the stretch is narrow and at several points up to Anthony Pillai Street, the condition of the road is so poor.

The relatively-free (except during rush hour) stretch, provides easy access to Tambaram Sanatorium, Chitlapakkam and Hasthinapuram. It prevents commuters from taking a detour through the East and West Tambaram Flyover and Grand Southern Trunk Road.

“Due to absence of streetlights, driving at night is a huge problem. Walking at night on the stretch is also not advisable for women. It gets worse when it rains,” K. Sheela Samuel, resident of Perialwar Street, said.

 “Though there are streetlights on the other side of the road, the lights are placed in such a way that it doesn’t provide illumination beyond 30 meters. At several points, the distance between the lamp posts is over 100 meters. Owing to darkness and poor condition of the road, people are forced to come through GST Road from Velachery Main Road to reach Chitlapakkam and Hasthinapuram,” residents said.