Marian Matriculation Higher Secondary School, St. Dominic’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and Mountfort Matriculation Higher Secondary School are requesting the Officers Training Academy (OTA) at St. Thomas Mount to reopen one of its four gates along the Grand Southern Trunk Road for the benefit of students and parents who come from Alandur, Adambakkam, Nanganallur and Meenambakkam.
The authorities of these schools have sought that one gate be opened for just one hour and 15 minutes (from 7.30 a.m. to 8.45 a.m.) in the morning. According to the authorities of these schools, they don’t expect this favour in the evening.
M. Shanmugha Raj, a parent who brings his children from Nanganallur every day to one of these schools, recalls that until 2011, OTA allowed outsiders to use all of its four entrances.
“In my opinion, to facilitate Metrorail work, two gates could have been closed and therefore, there was traffic congestion at the other two. Moreover, a section of the public also started using these entrances to reach Mugaliwakkam and Porur and this resulted in considerable traffic congestion. This probably led the OTA to close the other two gates,” adds Raj.
The educational institutions have made a number of representations to the OTA. As the gates remain closed, the other approach roads to the schools — North Parade Lane and North Parade Road — are always congested. All of those who come to school by two-wheelers, cars, autorickshaws and vans have to pass through these narrow roads.
Parents complain that no traffic personnel has been posted to regulate traffic.
Parents of Marian Matriculation Higher Secondary School have another problem. This school is located atop St. Thomas Mount. “It is a long drive as we have to climb the hill.
The other schools are located on North Parade Road. We have to go through the traffic on Mount Poonamalle Road and then head to the hill. We request the OTA to convene a meeting with the authorities of the school, the parent community and the traffic police,” says S.B. Hari Rajan, a parent who brings his children from Aadambakkam.
We have made a number of representations to the OTA, say the principals of Mountfort and St Dominic’s schools.
They both cite a minor accident that occurred a few years ago as possible reason for the decision to have the gates closed.
“Many children come late to school because of the traffic chaos. The schools make the students wait outside the classroom as punishment for being late. This is an issue that parents have raised at many parents-teachers meetings,” says C. M. Marianandam, principal of Marian Matriculation Higher Secondary School.