Pedestrians are unhappy that the pedestrian-crossing at the intersection of Indira Gandhi Road and Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, Pallavaram, has been blocked. It has been made one-way to facilitate the construction of the Pallavaram grade separator, which is designed to connect to Pammal Main Road. Commuters say huge stone boulders placed at the crossing prevent easy access to the two arterial stretches.
Originating from the Friday shandy signal on GST Road, the separator, which is being constructed at a cost of ₹68.86 crore, will have one arm going towards Pammal Main Road.
The intersection, which has never had a pedestrian crossing, has now been blocked to facilitate construction of the grade separator. Last Friday, boulders were placed at the intersection. However, pedestrians climbed over the boulders and crossed the intersection. In response, CTP placed iron and steel barricades on the boulders, which has caused pedestrians to climb over the median and cross the stretch.
“Pedestrians crossing the intersection will not disturb the construction work in any way. Moreover, the distance between the work area and the intersection is considerably long. It will benefit pedestrians if a passageway is created at the intersection,” says M. Kumar, a resident of Pammal.
A CTP official says, “A decision can be taken only after consulting the officials of State Highways Department.”