Illegal parking along Pallavaram Radial Road puts motorists at risk

Illegal parking along Pallavaram Radial Road puts motorists at risk

Poor Lighting, Faulty Signals Add To Woes

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.09.2021

Haphazardly parked water and sewage tankers are among the major causes of accidents on most city roads and the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road is no exception, with no fewer than 70 such vehicles halted on the stretch at any given time.

Compounding the problem is the poor illumination on the road along which are located several IT companies. The non-functioning of traffic pedestrian signals near the Kamakshi Hospital junction and at the one near Vel’s University is another issue, leading to chaos among pedestrians.

The 200-feet wide radial road has reduced the time taken to travel between Pallavaram and Thoraipakkam, but with vehicles parked on both sides there is very little space for motorists. The radial road was made into a six-lane stretch to ensure smooth flow of traffic, but despite this it has turned into a free unauthorised parking lot for many vehicles.

The scene is particularly bad near Kamakshi Hospital in Pallikaranai and Vel’s University, with traffic snarls the norm during peak hours as the road is heavily used by employees of IT firms. At Vel’s university, pedestrians are forced to risk their lives while crossing the road amid fast moving vehicles.

Drivers of trucks coming to unload construction material or supply water to apartment complexes park vehicles for long periods on the road sides, inconveniencing motorists. “Some of them are parked on the main roads. As many of these tankers are owned by politicians, the drivers don’t clear off soon,” said Moorthy, of Pallavaram.

With the entire left side of the 10km stretch turning an unauthorised parking lot, the lane meant for bikers is completely blocked. Large swathes of the stretch is also poorly lit, making commuting at night difficult. Many IT firm employees use the stretch after night shifts, making it handy for anti-social elements, say residents.

When contacted, a senior police officer said they would initiate action against truck drivers who park their vehicles illegally.

CHAOTIC: Vehicles parked illegally along Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road near Kovilambakkam