Visitors to the Greater Chennai Corporation zonal office and a sub-court in Ambattur on Chennai-Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road have a tough time crossing the road. As this section lacks police presence, motorists feel encouraged to drive at a break-neck speed and do not stop at the two pedestrian-crossings near these government offices.
Every day, on an average, the Corporation zonal office, the sub-court and the nearby Ambattur police station together register a footfall of 4,000 visitors. Further, commuters from other localities including Athipet and Pudhu Nagar board buses at a stopover near the zonal office because all MTC buses halt there. For boarding MTC buses from a bus stop opposite the zonal office, pedestrians, especially visitors to the two government offices, have to cross the road.
Often, motorists drive fast, taking advantage of the width of the road and do not stop for pedestrians. As a recently installed signal, near Ambattur police station, is not yet operational, a few police personnel regulate traffic at the spot, especially during rush hour. Once motorists cross the spot, they speed and overtake, without stopping for pedestrians at the entrances of the sub-court and the zonal office. “Pedestrians can hope to cross this section only if a sizeable number of them have gathered at the crossings. If police personnel are deployed at these pedestrian-crossings, safety of pedestrians can be ensured,” says K. Sarath, a petitioner at the sub-court. Motorists tend to step on the gas after crossing a narrow traffic spot between Ambattur Old Town (OT) bus terminus and Canara Bank bus stop, a distance of around one kilometre. In this narrow zone, traffic moves at a snail’s pace through the day. It may be noted that the State Highways Department has not acquired land on this section of CTH Road to execute road-widening work. “Steps will soon be taken to deploy traffic police personnel at the pedestrian-crossings,” say police sources.
