Motorists taking the Third Avenue Road between Anna roundtana and Aminjikarai police station tread on risky ground as the sandy stretch leads to many motorists especially motorcyclists skidding and hurting themselves every day.
Once a well-laid bitumen-topped stretch, the Third Avenue Road was dug up by the Water Resources Department (WRD) for the construction of the box-type channel to divert excess rainwater from the Otteri Nullah to Cooum river near Brewery Road. The 10-crore project was taken up to prevent flooding during monsoon. Though the work was completed a couple of months ago, the stretch was not re-laid.
“Motorists coming from Chinthamani signal and the 13th Main Road take the Third Avenue Road to reach either Second Avenue Road or proceed towards Anna Arch. The sandy nature of the stretch and the lack of a median cause many to skid,” said K. Rajesh, a motorist from Anna Nagar. The traffic on New Avadi Road —Third Avenue Road has also escalated because of several ongoing projects including the Metrorail work in Anna Nagar.
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While heavy vehicles are barred from taking the road, after the completion of channel work, two-wheelers and light vehicles were allowed to ply on it despite the poor condition of the stretch.
A commercial hub, Third Avenue Road is busy. It is busy also due to the presence of many noted educational institutions and banks. The stretch is a crucial link for thousands of motorists from the western and north-western parts of the city to reach the central part of the city. Police sources said the accidents on the stretch between the two spots have become common especially during rush hour. “Efforts would be taken to re-lay the stretch soon,” said a Corporation official.