Medavakkam residents want median removed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.03.2020

Troubled by haphazard vehicle movement, Medavakkam residents have demanded that the highways department remove portions of the median at two intersections on Mambakkam Main Road to ensure smooth flow of traffic and for the safety of schoolchildren. The stretch, off the arterial Velachery-Tambaram Main Road, is one of the busiest roads in the area, frequented especially by parents and other vehicles ferrying schoolkids.

“There are five schools in the neighbourhood and residents use Mambakkam Main Road to reach them,” said M Guru, who uses the stretch frequently.

TOI visited the stretch and noted that motorists have to traverse dangerously at the intersections from Babu Nagar 1st Main Road and 3rd Main Road. A week ago, there was an accident near a temple along the stretch due to unregulated movement of vehicles, residents said. They are of the opinion that their demand to secede a portion of the median is not an extraordinbeen affected due to delay in completion of the flyover on Velachery-Tambaram Road.

Residents are pining that a change in guard in the district administration will put an end to their woes. The village panchayat, which was with the Kancheepuram district, is now part of the newly carved Chengalpet district. “We have started petitioning the new district administration to elevate our neighbourhood into a town panchayat. Despite having a population of more than 50,000, the area is still a village panchayat,” said a resident.

NEEDING A FIX: Residents said oddly placed medians at two intersections on Mambakkam Main Road have left vehicles moving haphazardly, putting schoolgoers at risk

ary request. Residents also urged that steps must be taken soon to construct speed breakers on the stretch and relay access roads.

When asked, a state highways department official said traffic police have to assess the complaints of the residents for the centre median to be cut off.

Unchecked parking of vehicles, including water tankers, along the road has made life of motorists harder. Widening the road proved useless as carriageway space is reduced. Traffic on the stretch has also