It’s a fortnight since the service lane (towards Koyambedu) beneath the flyover at Tirumangalam on Jawaharlal Nehru Main Road was dug up for pipe-laying work, and the damaged portion is yet to be re-laid with bitumen. Instead of doing this, the State Highways Department, which maintains the stretch, has levelled the damaged portion with construction debris. As a result, movement of traffic has become considerably slow.
According to motorists, the delay in re-laying the damaged portion of the service land has not only led to chaotic traffic, but also increased the risk of accidents, especially of motorcyclists skidding and hurting themselves.
“A few days ago, while returning from work at night, my motorcycle skidded on the uneven portion of the stretch. Fortunately, I sustained only minor injuries in my hands and there was no vehicle behind me to run me over,” says S. Rajesh, a motorist from Anna Nagar.
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Every day, on an average, more than two lakh vehicles, including MTC buses and container lorries from neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh coming via Tada and Red Hills and from Karnataka via Sriperamburdur, ply on this stretch. Heavy vehicles, especially goods-laden lorries and trailers, are not allowed to use the stretch between 8 a.m and 11 p.m every day.
As far as the service lane is concerned, motorists from Padi, Ambattur, Tirumangalam and Mogappair use them to reach areas like Fourth Avenue and Shanthi Colony in Anna Nagar.
Further, the service lane provides motorists with the shortest route to reach Poonamallee High Road near D.G. Vaishnav College for Men in Arumbakkam. Also, motorists from Anna Nagar use the service lane to reach Koyambedu and areas beyond it.
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Despite being of such help to motorists, the service lane beneath the Tirumangalam flyover has not been re-laid by the State Highways Department. Moreover, the service lane also connects J.N. Main Road with Fourth Avenue Main Road where a women’s college and hospitals are located.
Ambulances from these hospitals use the service lane to reach the designated spots.
“Steps will be taken to re-lay the service lane soon,” says a State Highways official.