Those walking to the Murugan temple in Vadapalani and other pedestrians are at risk for accidents at Nerkundran Pathai traffic junction on the Jawaharlal Nehru (J.N) Main Road as motorists does not stop for them.
At present, during rush hour, only one traffic police personnel is deployed at the junction, especially during weekdays. The rest of the time, especially on weekends, motorists and pedestrians end up regulating traffic themselves at the junction. The junction is one of the key traffic points in the region. Others include CMBT (Koyambedu), MMDA, Vadapalani, Ashok Pillar, Kasi Theatre junction and Kathipara flyover.
Traffic blocks at any of these major traffic points affects the entire traffic flow on J.N. Main Road, Poonamallee High (P.H) Road, Arcot Road and Anna Salai. “Devotees coming from CMBT, Koyambedu, use this junction to reach the temple skipping the congested Vadapalani junction. However, traffic violations, especially jumping signals, are rampant, putting pedestrians in jeopardy,” says S. Arunachalam a devotee from Thiruvannamalai.
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Unlike most other junctions on J.N. Main Road, the Nerkundram Pathai junction is extremely narrow, especially on the Nerkundram Pathai side.
A few years ago, traffic police converted one side of Nerkundram Pathai (the one going towards Murugan temple) into a one-way with vehicles from the temple being allowed to take right turn at the junction, towards CMBT. However, vehicles on the opposite side, had to take ‘U’ turn near MMDA Colony junction to reach the Murugan temple.
Nevertheless, this traffic arrangement proved ineffective as vehicles from all directions would bunch up at junction, especially during the evening rush hour.
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“More traffic police personnel will be deployed at the junction to prevent traffic violations,” say police sources.