Unruly traffic near J.J. Nagar police station

For motorists, especially MTC bus drivers, getting through Valayapathi Salai in Mogappair, near J.J. Nagar police station, is a struggle. And, on this stretch, pedestrians are at risk for accidents.

This road, located near J.J. Nagar police station, battles the usual problems plaguing many city roads. Only that, this battle is slightly more intense than most others.

All the usual suspects are present: A road that is mostly narrow. Illegal parking on the road resulting from the presence of shops. Traffic regulation that has room for improvement. Lack of median. And lack of access to the footpath for pedestrians due to illegal parking by visitors of these shops.

Quite ironically, the major part of the traffic problem plays out in front of the J.J. Nagar police station. The reason: Traffic management of the neighbourhood of Mogappair falls under the jurisdiction of the traffic wing of the Tirumangalam police station, located around three kilometres from Mogappair.

A key link road, Valayapathi Road connects Mogappair with other major localities in the region, which include Anna Nagar, Tirumangalam, Ambattur, Nolambur, Padi and Korattur. The stretch also links East Mogppair with West Mogappair.

The one-kilometre long Valayapthi Road is bitumen-topped and wide in many places, but also distressingly narrow on many sections. The Valayapathi Road is lined with many shops and other facilities that residents have to access frequently.

Buses originating from East and West Mogappair terminuses use the stretch to reach Jawaharlal Nehru Main Road via Anna Nagar and Tirumangalam. It also facilitates access to schools located on the Ambattur Industrial Estate Main Road.

“Near the J.J. Nagar police station, there is bend, which makes it challenge for motorists coming from both directions to turn their vehicles easily. In addition, the route suffers blockage due to illegal parking of autorickshaws and other vehicles,” says K. Selvam, a motorist from Mogappair.

Further, overgrown trees on the stretch towards J.J. Nagar police station block illumination from street lights. Motorists want the civic officials and the police to work together to ease the congestion on the road. “We will conduct a study on the traffic flow and make necessary changes to ease the traffic congestion on the stretch,” say police sources.