The service lane (towards Anna Nagar) under Tirumangalam flyover on Jawaharlal Nehru (J.N) Main Road is plagued by unauthorised parking of vehicles, which include school vans. As a result, motorists bound for Tirumangalam junction have only a narrow space to themselves.
As the Kendriya Vidyalaya school is located inside the government quarters near the ramp of the flyover, it has become customary for drivers of school vans and private vehicles to park their vehicles along the service lane, thus blocking the movement of other vehicles.
The unauthorised parking near the ramp of the flyover frequently triggers traffic chaos.
During night, other drivers follow the practice of parking their vehicles near the ramp. “Using the narrow space for illegal parking defeats the very purpose of having a flyover, which is to prevent traffic snarls,” says S. Vinoth, a motorist from Anna Nagar.
Every day, on an average, more than two lakh vehicles, including MTC buses and container lorries from neighbouring States such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka trundle down J.N Main Road. However, heavy vehicles, especially goods-laden lorries and trailer trucks, are not allowed to use the stretch between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. on all days. As far as the service lane is concerned, motorists from Padi, Ambattur, Tirumangalam and Mogappair use the lane to reach Fourth Avenue and Shanthi Colony in Anna Nagar. Further, the service lane is part of the shortest route to Poonamallee High (P.H) Road near D.G. Vaishnav College for Men in Arumbakkam.
Adding to the traffic congestion, residents also use the service lane to reach the Koyambedu wholesale market and the CMBT. With many stretches still being part of one-way routes in Anna Nagar and Tirumangalam, vehicle owners and school van drivers are not choosing the regular parking options, which would require them to travel quite a distance.
Repeated warnings by the State Highways and the traffic police have fallen on the deaf ears. So, residents have suggested that the entire stretch, including the service lane, be declared as ‘no parking zone.’
A State Highways official says, “We will soon raise barricades to prevent such unauthorised parking.”
