A long-standing tree, around 50 years old, is no longer a part of the intersection of Station View Road and Station Border Road in Kodambakkam.
The Zone – 10 (Kodambakkam) officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation had the tree felled as it was believed to be contributing traffic congestion at the junction. The huge tree was occupying a space with a radius of three metres.
According to officials, the tree was felled for two reasons. One, damaged in cyclone Vardah, the tree has been dying. Two, the tree was indirectly aiding encroachment of space at the intersection.
Earlier, taking advantage of the tree shade, hawkers encroached upon the road intersection, which is located close to the Kodambakkam railway station. These hawkers would be evicted by the Corporation and, every time, they would return to their stomping ground, say Corporation officials.
One of the arms of Y-shaped flyover connects Bazullah Road with Kodambakkam railway station through Station Border Road and the other arm connects Bazullah Road with Subramania Nagar in Kodambakkam. On both these arms, a one-way traffic arrangement is in place.
That is, motorists from Bazullah Road are supposed to take the arm leading to Subramaniya Nagar but they are not allowed to proceed straight towards the railway station. Likewise, motorists from Kodambakkam railway station can use the arm which leads to Bazullah Road and not vice-versa. Motorists, who want to reach the Kodambakkam railway station from Bazullah Road have to proceed towards Subramaniya Nagar and then take a right turn to reach the station via Station Border Road. But these lane rules are not followed, and this results in traffic congestion on Station Border Road and Station View Road where one-way traffic arrangement is in place.
Officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Traffic Police are of the opinion that the felling of the tree may help in relieving traffic congestion at the intersection of Station View Road and Station Border Road in Kodambakkam.
