Without the restraining effect of a median, traffic on Paper Mills Road resembles a ship without a rudder.
According to motorists, the road is now prone to accidents, with the section between Sembium police station and Gandhi statue near Agaram, which accounts for around a kilometre of the entire road, posing great threat to the safety of motorists.
A huge number of motorists from Kolathur, Agaram, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Mathur, Moolakadai, Majambakkam, Red Hills and Puzhal use Paper Mills Road to reach the central parts of the city.
“Rash driving, especially by motorcyclists, is common on this road,” says A. Satish Kumar, a motorist from Perambur.
Motorists say traffic regulation on this road leaves a lot to be desired.
Although the Sembium police station is located on the stretch, from Gandhi statue to the ramp of Murasoli Maran flyover, there are no traffic police personnel to be found.
The existing traffic arrangement — motorists coming from Paper Mills Road take a right turn below the flyover to reach areas like Jamaliya and Ayanavaram via the subway — is adding to the traffic congestion in the area.
Similarly, motorists coming from Perambur Main Road and travelling along railway station in Perambur have to come straight below the flyover to reach Paper Mills Road.
The project to widen Paper Mills Road went into cold storage long ago due to problems relating to land acquisition.
The road does not have a separate footpath, median, lane for buses, reflectors and speed breakers.
Small concrete slabs have been placed on the stretch for a distance of around 200 metres to prevent motorists from jumping on to the opposite lane especially during rush hour.
This problem assumes a dangerous dimension at night, as the concrete slabs are not all that clearly visible from a distance.
Motorists say that steel barricades can be placed on the narrow, two-lane Paper Mills Road, along the lines of Perambur Main Road in front of the railway station.
Pedestrian crossings should also be laid at key spots including near bus stops with deployment of traffic policeman there. “Steps will be taken to provide basic facilities on the stretch soon,” said a Corporation official.
