For motorists, the trials of traversing the small stretch of Chengalpattu-Kancheepuram Road, near Pazhayaseevaram, during the ongoing sugarcane crushing season seem to have reduced considerably this year, thanks to the blanket ban imposed on sand quarrying activity for one year in Kancheepuram district from this month.
For the past few years, particularly after the setting up of sand second sales point at Sankarapuram near Pazhayaseevaram a few years ago, passing through this small stretch of around 1.5 km had become a nightmarish experience for motorists.
They had to find their way through hundreds of lorries — carrying sand or sugarcane — parked on both sides of the carriageway during sugarcane crushing season, which extends for four months starting from October every year.
But this year, with the sand sales activity at Sankarapuram sand stock yard coming to a standstill due to the ban on quarrying activity from November 13, incessant movement of sand lorries through Pazhayaseevaram has become a thing of the past.
Hence, the entire stretch was taken over by sugarcane laden lorries/tractors as the drivers started parking their vehicles on both side of the carriageway. However, last week, the district police directed lorry drivers to park their vehicles in a single row on the northern side of the carriageway alone or face severe action.
Subsequently, lorry drivers fell in line with the police direction leaving a major portion of the carriageway free for movement of other vehicles. The police refused to accept their explanation that the parking lot inside the sugar mill could accommodate only 100 vehicles.
