Pedestrians frequenting the North Gate Terminus Road at Tollgate have appealed to the State Highways Department to lay speed breakers on the stretch.
The stretch facilitates connectivity to Ennore, Kasimedu, Thiruvottiyur, and Minjur. On both sides of the stretch, the space earmarked for the walkers is lined with vehicles including lorries and trucks.
To add to their woes, the walkers path is used as a public urinal and a dump yard. The area is also slushy and slippery. The pedestrians are left with no other option, but to risk their lives and walk on the carriageway.
The stretch witnesses continuous flow of traffic throughout the day and a lone speed breaker exists at the intersection of this stretch and Kasimedu Coastline Road. This stretch has no bus stop and the nearest bus stop is about a km away. Commuters from here often take the risk of boarding the Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses passing through this stretch — 6D, 1B, 1A, and 1C — as they slow down near the speed breaker.
“As the pedestrians are forced to walk on the road, the need of the hour is to lay speed breakers to make the motorists reduce the speed of their vehicles,” S. Selvi, a pedestrian and a resident of Tollgate, said.
“During the weekends, the stretch witnesses continuous flow of vehicular traffic. Most youngsters ride their bikes at high speed through the stretch to reach Kasimedu pier and the beach, which over the years have become one of the popular weekend hangouts.”
Warning boards should be placed on both sides of the stretch to alert the motorists about the approaching speed-breakers, V. Narayanan, a refreshment stall owner and a resident of Tollgate, said.
