GST Road a nightmare for Tambaram residents

By P. Oppili

CHENNAI, AUG. 12. Residents of Tambaram with poor civic infrastructure has to contend with an endless stream of traffic barely giving people time to dart across the GST Road.

There is more trouble in the form of encroachers occupying pavements and bus shelters, haphazard parking of MTC and mofussil buses on both sides of the road and misuse of bus stand.

Neither the municipal authorities nor the police seem to take serious note of the problems faced by the pedestrians every day, the road users complain. Welcoming the recent shifting of transport corporation bus stops, the residents said while doing so the authorities could have shifted the terminus of the State Express Transport Corporation also.

The bus stop adds to the congestion and this could be shifted to the vacant parking bay after the Velacheri level crossing gate, they suggested.

A proposal to shift the bus bay outside the railway station into the vacant land inside the station was mooted. The then Transport Minister, Mr. Ponmudi, visited the spot and the vacant space outside the reservation counter was suggested for shifting. But nothing took off and the congestion continues.

The other side of the GST Road is full of encroachments. Mini- lorries and autorickshaws are parked in front of the Hindu Mission hospital forcing pedestrians to walk on the middle of the road.

Thanks to the influence of some of the hoteliers in the area, no bus is parked inside the bus stand meant for MTC buses, the residents allege. They are parked haphazardly on the bay, blocking free movement of other vehicles.

Mr. A.G. Ponn Manickavel, Superintendent of Police, said in an attempt to reduce the congestion, all the omni buses from the city have been diverted through Gandhi Road and Market area.

The buses join GST Road from Mudichur Road after 9 p.m. and pose a threat to road users. Some of the residents suggest that the vehicles could be diverted through Padappai Road, Mudichur Road, Mannivakkam Koot Road, Wallajah Road and could enter GST Road at Vandalur Gate.

A few years ago, the highways authorities agreed to conduct survey on both sides of GST Road at Tambaram to identify encroachments. As they could not get the cooperation from the State Survey department, the work could not be taken up.

Construction of a subway connecting Tambaram railway station and the market area was also not taken up. Municipal, police and other Government agencies should work in tandem to create a congestion-free GST Road.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Cyclist killed
Next     : The changing face