Commuters boarding buses at the Thambu Chetty Street bus stop on Ibrahim Sahib Street in Mannady have asked the Metropolitan Transport Corporation to ensure that route numbers halt there.
Towards Vallalar Nagar, there is no median at the exit point of Royapuram Bridge, and taking advantage of this situation, bus drivers swerve right to enter Mannarsamy Koil Street in Royapuram. Up to the point where it intersects with M.S. Koil Street, Ibrahim Sahib Street is a one-way.
According to the traffic rule book, motorists who come from Chennai Beach and enter M.S. Koil Street should turn right, and motorists that come from M.S. Koil Street to go to Prakasam Salai, should drive on the western lane of the stretch, near Linghi Chetty Street and Thambu Chetty Street.
Motorists including MTC bus drivers swerve left and right near Narayana Sarang Garden Street to go to Royapuram and Prakasam Salai, thereby raising the risk of accidents. As a result, commuters waiting at Thambu Chetty Street bus stop have to signal the drivers to stop. Only a few drivers stop, that too on the space earmarked for installation of a median.
Three route numbers ply through the halting point — 44 (a cut service operated between Manali and High Court), 4 (Ennore–High Court) and 56 C (Thiruvottiyur–Broadway).
Commuters have no option other than to run and board their route numbers amidst the flow of vehicular traffic towards Prakasam Salai. When the buses stop on the carriageway, traffic movement on the western lane of the stretch is hindered.
On Tuesday, two school girls were standing on the median near the intersection of Ibrahim Sahib Street and Mannarsamy Koil Street to board their route numbers.
In a hurry to board their route numbers, commuters run like school children, facing the risk of being hit by speeding vehicles, say commuters.
Will steps be taken to resolve this issue?
