Consult us before inking in changes: Residents

Sometime ago, the traffic department had to call off a traffic arrangement it had introduced on MGR Salai, as it had not gone down well with road-users. On the positive side, the fiasco seemed to have taught the Department a valuable lesson — road-users should first be consulted and not informed about traffic changes.

For, there was immediately an indication from the Department that a public consultation about the issue would be held soon. This announcement was made in the last week of May; the public consultation is yet to take place.

To the Department’s credit, it had not introduced any new plan either. The issue seems to have been put on the back burner — which is not good, as the traffic on the stretch is getting more and more chaotic.

Similarly, there was no public consultation before traffic changes were introduced on a stretch of Old Mahabalipuram Road — from Tidel Park to Madhya Kailash.

Residents who attend redressal meetings conducted by Greater Chennai Corporation, Metrowater, India Post and other government departments will tell you that the traffic police has a poor track record when it comes to conducting such meetings. “I don’t remember the traffic police holding such meetings with residents’ welfare associations before introducing traffic changes,” says S. Arumai Nathan, president, Virugambakkam Residents’ Welfare Association.

Arumai Nathan is however sceptical about the outcome of these meetings.

“It is difficult to get a consensus at these meetings as residents use them to vent their ire about various issues. Though these meetings don’t always serve their purpose, the Chennai Corporation is at least conducting them,” says Arumai Nathan, adding that before effecting traffic changes, the views of road users, including autorickshaw drivers and representatives of Metropolitan Transport Corporation, should be factored in.

The traffic police say they may not have conducted formal meetings, but have certainly taken feedback from residents and motorists, especially RWAs.

“Inspectors sometimes invite themselves to meetings of RWAs for feedback about the traffic situation in the neighbourhood,” says Chandran, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) — Adyar.

Feedback mechanism

There have been instances where the police have depended on information shared by representatives of RWAs.

For restoring two-way traffic arrangement at Royapettah High Road, feedback from various WhatsApp groups were consolidated and presented to the police.

“Similarly, for eviction of hawkers from Mada Streets, we had representatives from various departments having a meeting on the road. It was truly participatory,” says K. Viswanathan, secretary, Mylapore Residents Welfare Association.