Poor illumination and a road that is uneven — which is, putting it midly — have made the intersection of R.K. Shanmuganathan Salai and Link Road in K.K. Nagar unsafe for motorists and pedestrians.
Due to continual movement of Chennai Metrowater tankers, other road users feel unsafe at the junction.
According to police sources, on an average, two accidents take place at the junction every fortnight.
Located around 500 metres from a police booth, the intersection connects K.K. Nagar, Chimmiya Nagar, Saligramam, Dasarathapuram, Vadapalani, Alwarthirunagar, Ramapuram, Ashok Nagar and Virugambakkam.
The junction also connects Arcot Road via the 80-feet- Road with P.T. Rajan Salai in K.K. Nagar.
“Due to this junction, many motorists skip the chaotic Arcot Road and take less-congested stretches like Anna Main Road and P.T. Rajan Salai to reach T. Nagar and other central parts of the city,” says S. Thirukumaran, a motorist from Virumbakkam.
Further, many automobile mechanic workshops are located near the junction, many vehicles are parked there, further its width. The junction is 60 feet wide.
Old sodium vapour street lamps are located on the stretches that intersect at the junction. Overgrown and unpruned trees block their light from these lamps.
Police sources say that they can only regulate traffic, but roads and junction can be made safer only with the active cooperation of the Corporation as they have to trim the overgrown trees, remove unauthorised parking and re-lay the damaged portions of the stretch.
“Efforts will be taken to trim the trees and remove unauthorised parking at the junction,” says a Corporation official.