Commuters at the Thiruvottiyur bus terminus who board buses with Toll Gate, Theradi, Royapuram and New Washermenpet as destinations have urged the Chennai Traffic Police and the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to facilitate a U-turn near the intersection of Thiruvottiyur High Road and Manickam Nagar.
Route numbers 1A, 1, 28, 101, and 1B and 1C, 1D, 4 and 4C ply from Thiruvottiyur and Ennore bus terminus and pass through Royapuram, Clive Battery, Toll Gate, Theradi, Kalmandapam, Chennai Beach, Mylapore, Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur.
At present, MTC buses coming from Ennore stop at Ajax bus stop located opposite the intersection. A few drivers (from Thiruvottiyur bus terminus) halt on Thiruvottiyur High Road and some halt right on the stretch blocking the flow of vehicular traffic towards Ernavoor and Theradi.
During the evening rush hour, commuters proceeding towards the afore-mentioned areas wait outside the terminus and at Ajax halting point.
“On Thiruvottiyur High Road towards Theradi and Wimco Nagar, there are no lamp posts and at the intersection, the LED high mast lamp doesn’t function. Commuters, while trying to board the buses, face the risk of being hit by the motorists coming from Manickam Nagar, Toll Gate and Wimco Nagar,” says S. Selvam, a commuter and a resident of Wimco Nagar.
The U-turn is less than 500 metres from the terminus. If the drivers are directed to take a U-turn, we (commuters) can safely board the buses from the halting point, he says.
A MTC official says, “A decision in this regard has to be taken by the traffic police department. Once we receive a directive, it will be communicated to the MTC staff.”
A traffic police officer says, “We will soon conduct a viability study at the intersection. Based on the study, a decision will be taken.”