As the four-km-long Wall Tax Road does not have an adequate number of pedestrian crossings, many walkers, which include students of Government Higher Secondary school, are dicing with danger, climbing over the concrete median to cross the stretch.
The concrete median, three feet high, was constructed a month ago by the Greater Chennai Corporation to rein in jaywalkers.
“Between the section of Wall Tax Road that stretches from the Central railway station to the Elephant Gate junction, only a few pedestrian crossings are available. Between these two spots, pedestrians have to walk at least half-a-kilometre to find a pedestrian crossing. This is a tall order for senior citizens,” says R. Venketash, a resident of Broadway.
The young and the middle-aged climb over the concrete median to cross the road. As the movement of vehicles, including MTC buses and goods-laden lorries, is continual, they are putting their life and limb in jeopardy.
For those who eschew this option, which often include senior citizens, the alternative is to walk half a kilometre from the side entrance of the Central railway station to cross the stretch. There is a pedestrian crossing at the railway’s cargo section located on the road.
A lone pedestrian subway is at the railway station on Wall Tax Road, which is mainly used by train travellers either entering or leaving the Cental station.
Lined with government-owned godowns, wholesale trade establishments and the cargo railway yard, the two-lane Wall Tax Road, which connects Poonamallee High (PH) Road with Basin Bridge, is a busy stretch.
On an average, around 1.5 lakh commuters visit Central railway station every day. While most of the passengers and other visitors enter and leave the station through the main entrance on Poonamallee High (PH) Road and the passage way at Moore Market complex, a considerable number of passengers, especially those from the northern neighbourhoods of Chennai, take entrance on Wall Tax Road.
Further, there is continual movement of railway workers and agents especially in the cargo section behind the railway station to load and unload goods at godowns along the stretch.
“More pedestrian crossings will be provided on the stretch soon,” says a Corporation official.
