Chennai: Mushrooming complexes and multiplexes add to traffic woes
DECCAN CHRONICLE. | F. MALISE CHRISTINA & W. ROSHNI GRACE
PublishedJan 19, 2019, 6:48 am IST
Due to lack of proper parking facilities, cab and auto drivers park vehicles alongside the shopping malls that add to the traffic woes.
Several autos and share autos line up near a mall in Chennai. (Image DC)
Chennai: Despite Chennai city traffic police keeping an eye on city roads and the corporation initiating new flyovers, traffic congestion continues to frustrate the motorists at important intersections.
The mushrooming shopping centres and multiplexes being launched in the city have neglected to manage the huge number of vehicles swarming them. Due to lack of proper parking facilities, cab and auto drivers park vehicles alongside the shopping malls that add to the traffic woes.
Various stretches such as 100 ft Road in Vadapalani, Whites Road, Mount Poonamallee High Road in Porur, GST road in Chromepet, Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Thirumangalam and Royappettah tower clock are some of the most congested areas during the peak hours, thanks to the shopping malls in the neighbourhood.
The traffic near the malls and multiplexes has not only created a nuisance to the motorists, but also creates a great difficulty for the ambulances to get through from the hospital in vicinity of these complexes.
"Lack of parking facilities and one-way route related problems worsen the traffic as there are no dividers. There is no signal at these junctions and it takes more that 20-30 minutes to pass by the shopping complexes," says Dev Prasad, a regular commuter from Thirumangalam.
Unruly parking of cabs and autos outside these complexes is the main reason behind this traffic. Despite the actions taken by the police and mall security, the drivers continue to pick and drop passengers in their vehicles in front of the malls.
The multiplex authorities state that the picking and dropping of customers were kept in mind and facilities made accordingly. However the auto and cab drivers tend to stop at the gates to save their time.
Ambulance drivers of the nearby hospitals also blame cabs and autos for delayed service near various junctions, as the traffic congestion takes long to clear.
"Most of those drivers tell that it's difficult for them to go inside the malls just to drop their customers or wait for 5-10 minutes to pick them up not understanding the trouble it causes," said a mall security in Vadapalani.
"Taxi drivers make lame excuses skipping the proper parking directive mainly laid for taxis. The customers must also feel responsible and must make sure that they take their cabs according to the directions laid by the mall management and thereby reducing the traffic created," he added.
When contacted, traffic police expressed their helplessness to regulate traffic during peak hours near the commercial establishments.
"App based cab aggregators add to the problem as they wait for their customers at least for 3-5 minutes near the shopping complexes. They can be given space to wait in the front portion of the mall, which is otherwise used for decorations and other purposes, while cabs and autos stand in queue on the main road causing traffic congestion," said a traffic police officer.
He added that during the peak time, a traffic cop is put on duty to regulate the traffic near these malls, but it is these establishments that can bring up a solution to the problem.
DECCAN CHRONICLE. | F. MALISE CHRISTINA & W. ROSHNI GRACE
PublishedJan 19, 2019, 6:48 am IST
Due to lack of proper parking facilities, cab and auto drivers park vehicles alongside the shopping malls that add to the traffic woes.
Several autos and share autos line up near a mall in Chennai. (Image DC)
Chennai: Despite Chennai city traffic police keeping an eye on city roads and the corporation initiating new flyovers, traffic congestion continues to frustrate the motorists at important intersections.
The mushrooming shopping centres and multiplexes being launched in the city have neglected to manage the huge number of vehicles swarming them. Due to lack of proper parking facilities, cab and auto drivers park vehicles alongside the shopping malls that add to the traffic woes.
Various stretches such as 100 ft Road in Vadapalani, Whites Road, Mount Poonamallee High Road in Porur, GST road in Chromepet, Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Thirumangalam and Royappettah tower clock are some of the most congested areas during the peak hours, thanks to the shopping malls in the neighbourhood.
The traffic near the malls and multiplexes has not only created a nuisance to the motorists, but also creates a great difficulty for the ambulances to get through from the hospital in vicinity of these complexes.
"Lack of parking facilities and one-way route related problems worsen the traffic as there are no dividers. There is no signal at these junctions and it takes more that 20-30 minutes to pass by the shopping complexes," says Dev Prasad, a regular commuter from Thirumangalam.
Unruly parking of cabs and autos outside these complexes is the main reason behind this traffic. Despite the actions taken by the police and mall security, the drivers continue to pick and drop passengers in their vehicles in front of the malls.
The multiplex authorities state that the picking and dropping of customers were kept in mind and facilities made accordingly. However the auto and cab drivers tend to stop at the gates to save their time.
Ambulance drivers of the nearby hospitals also blame cabs and autos for delayed service near various junctions, as the traffic congestion takes long to clear.
"Most of those drivers tell that it's difficult for them to go inside the malls just to drop their customers or wait for 5-10 minutes to pick them up not understanding the trouble it causes," said a mall security in Vadapalani.
"Taxi drivers make lame excuses skipping the proper parking directive mainly laid for taxis. The customers must also feel responsible and must make sure that they take their cabs according to the directions laid by the mall management and thereby reducing the traffic created," he added.
When contacted, traffic police expressed their helplessness to regulate traffic during peak hours near the commercial establishments.
"App based cab aggregators add to the problem as they wait for their customers at least for 3-5 minutes near the shopping complexes. They can be given space to wait in the front portion of the mall, which is otherwise used for decorations and other purposes, while cabs and autos stand in queue on the main road causing traffic congestion," said a traffic police officer.
He added that during the peak time, a traffic cop is put on duty to regulate the traffic near these malls, but it is these establishments that can bring up a solution to the problem.
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