Cutting corners to ensure you reach your destination quickly, may actually ensure you never reach it.
On, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, you find many motorists doing just that. They pick shortcuts, which often involves driving on the wrong side.
For example, the SRP Tools junction is notorious for motorcyclists driving in the wrong direction to get to Thiruvanmiyur. Although the traffic police have adopted some measures, it still is an issue during rush hour.
Now, the stretch between the Perungudi toll plaza and foot overbridge has become a pain point for motorists who abide by the rule of the road.
Motorists coming from Perungudi Industrial Estate and proceeding towards Kottivakkam and Thiruvanmiyur should take a u-turn at the intersection of Corporation Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Perungudi.
But, they cut through the flow of vehicular traffic proceeding towards Sholinganallur and Kottivakkam.
Motorists coming from Sholinganallur and Thiruvanmiyur do the same thing while proceeding to Kandanchavadi and Thoraipakkam. Motorists coming from Sholinganallur and Thiruvanmiyur can only take u-turn at this junction.
“Motorists coming from Kandanchavadi speed, increasing the risk of collision. They zip past pedestrians,” says S. Vijay, a long-time resident of Sholinganallur.
Accidents are waiting to happen at this intersection if action is not taken. “The safety of motorists is compromised near the intersection.”
As many of the lanes branching off the service lanes of OMR lead to neighbourhoods of ECR like Kottivakkam and Palavakkam, driving on the road side is the fastest way to reach certain destinations.
A Chennai Traffic Police official said, “Steps will be taken to deploy personnel at the intersection to check violations.”
