Motorists frequenting the intersection of Rajiv Gandhi Salai and Sardar Patel Road have asked the Chennai Traffic Police (CTP) to put an end to the menace of lane violation.
It is not a case of motorists criss-crossing and getting in the way of others on the same side of the carriageway.
It has to do with motorists driving on a carriageway they have no business to be driving on.
Motorists proceeding towards Rajiv Gandhi Salai are at grave risk due to this irresponsible motoring behaviour. According to the traffic arrangement, motorists coming from Rajiv Gandhi Salai and proceeding towards Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, should take a U-turn at the intersection of Sardar Patel Road and Gandhi Mandapam Road, Kotturpuram. They however take a U-turn on Rajiv Gandhi Salai itself and drive on the lane towards Thiruvanmiyur, facing the traffic that is moving in the opposite direction. This irresponsible behaviour raises the spectre of a head-on collision.
“To avoid taking a detour, motorists come in the wrong direction. Traffic police personnel deployed at the intersection remain a mute spectator to this,” says A. Adithya, a motorist and a resident of Gandhi Nagar.
Similarly, motorists coming from Kotturpuram and Gandhi Nagar come through the intersection to enter Rajiv Gandhi Salai; they should instead take an u-turn at the intersection of Kasturba Nagar and Gandhi Nagar, near Gandhi Nagar bus terminus.
These motorists face the risk of being involved in a collision with those proceeding towards Adyar and Greenways Road.
S. Supriya, a resident of Kotturpuram, says, "Crossing the intersection is a nightmarish experience; only a few seconds’ time is given to cross the intersection. Even in those few seconds, motorists coming from Rajiv Gandhi Salai drive through intersection to reach Gandhi Nagar and vice-versa. Pedestrians face the risk of being hit by vehicles.”
A Chennai Traffic Police official says the issue will be taken up soon with higher authorities.
