A section of Chennai Metro Rail commuters has asked the Chennai Traffic Police to hold talks with the State Highways Department to create pedestrian crossings in front of Nanganalllur Metro Station and Alandur Metro Station.
This group has also asked the traffic police to ensure the recently-installed traffic signals on Chennai International Airport Flyover Service Lane Road are made functional.
Though a subway connects the Tirusulam Railway Station with Chennai Airport Metro Station and Chennai International Airport, it mostly benefits pedestrians proceeding towards Tirusulam.
The other Alandur pedestrian subway, located near Alandur Metro Station, has become home to mendicants and stray dogs. Moreover, it is poorly-illuminated. So, many pedestrians avoid the facility.
“Many people cross the Grand Southern Trunk Road by jumping over the median,” says P. Vinodh.
Also, there is a pedestrian signal near S3 Meenambakkam Bazaar Police Booth that is manned by the traffic police. But commuters hardly use this pedestrian crossing. They cross the road making use of stone boulders that serve as median, near the intersection of Grand Southern Trunk Road and Pandian Road in Meenambakkam.
The forum has also pointed out that there is no pedestrian-crossing in front of the Nanganallur Metro Station.
“Pedestrians have to go up to St. Thomas Mount Garrison Church, which is quite far away. The CMRL should have taken up with the State Highways Department and the Chennai Traffic Police the matter of creating pedestrian crossings near the CMRL stations and not block the intersections and inconvenience commuters,” says P. Vinodh.
In this regard, a Chennai Traffic Police official said that pedestrian-crossings have been created near the St. Thomas Mount Garrison Church. A decision on creation of a pedestrian-crossing near Alandur Metro Station will be taken only after conducting a feasibility study.