Potholes on the service lane (where traffic moves towards Koyambedu) of the flyover at Vadapalani junction on Jawarharlal Nehru Main Road send out a silent but unmistakable message: It’s high time the service lane got the benefit of a restoration exercise. The lane witnesses heavy traffic as a result of its proximity to the Metro Rail station in Vadapalani. The presence of many schools, hospitals and spaces for shopping in the vicinity also contributes to the traffic overload.
Motorists coming from Ashok Nagar prefer taking the service lane to going over the flyover to reach neighbouring localities such as Dasarathapuram and Saligramam via interior streets. But, this service lane is far from perfect.
One, it is plagued by unauthorised parking, which includes share-autorickshaws and cabs.
Next, pedestrians find the service lane unsafe at night as it is not well-lit.
Above all, a private hospital-cum-medical college is located on the service lane and it is therefore frequented by ambulances. There are a good number of patients who walk from Metropolitan Transport Corporation stopover which is located around 200 metres from the hospital. As the service lane is ridden with potholes and congested with heavy traffic, patients and relatives are put to a lot of inconvenience.
A year ago, a portion of Arcot Road between Vadapalani junction and Sarawathi Vidyalaya was made two-way. Since then, traffic at the Vadapalani junction was better streamlined. However, the service lane continues to be a cause for concern. “As there is a ‘U’ turn near the junction, many motorists tend to drive at a high speed on the service lane. So, safety features including reflectors and speed-breakers are required here,” says S. Vasanthi, a resident of Ashok Nagar.
The Chennai Traffic Police also saw a need to relay the service lane. The issue was raised at one of its monthly meetings with the State Highways officials. “Necessary steps will be taken to relay the lane at the earliest,” says a State Highways official.
