Due to poor illumination, a narrow bend near Aranganathan subway on Reddy Kuppam Road in West Mambalam has become highly accident-prone. Overgrown branches of trees near the subway have to be trimmed as they block the light from the street lamps. Besides, sodium-vapour lamps have to be replaced with LED lamps.
The Greater Chennai Corporation renovated the subway in September 2016 at a cost of Rs.15 lakh. As part of the renovation, the floor of the subway was cemented, stormwater drains were widened and deepened and lighting facility was provided. But Reddy Kuppam Road, which is an approach road to the subway from West Mambalam and CIT Nagar, was not included in the renovation plans.
In addition, there is an outlet of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) near the narrow bend. A row of motorcycles can be seen parked in front of the outlet and hindering pedestrians headed towards the entrance of the subway. Besides, the road near the subway is being dug-up on and off for cable-laying work. There are no signboards to warn road-users about this.
According to the police, two accidents occur every month.
“Steps will be taken to provide safety features,” says a Corporation official.