Traffic violations have become rampant on a section of Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, between Pallavaram bus stop and Old Trunk Road.
Due to ongoing construction of Pallavaram grade separator, traffic changes have been effected towards Pammal. Now, according to the new arrangement, motorists coming from Chennai International Airport should come through Old Trunk Road and then take a U-turn at the intersection of Thiruneermalai Road and GST Road to reach Pallavaram, Pammal and Pozhichalur.
Instead, they take a U-turn on Old Trunk Road and drive in the wrong direction on GST Road.
This section of GST Road allows for only one-way traffic up to the intersection of Old Trunk Road. But, motorists come in the wrong direction to enter Ismail Sahib Street to reach Pammal and Pozhichalur. From Ismail Sahib Street, motorists go through Shandy Road, Ambedkar Road and R.C. Church Road to reach Pammal and Pozhichalur. It may be noted that all these roads have provision only for one-way traffic.
“As motorists come in the wrong direction, traffic comes to a grinding halt near the intersection of Old Trunk Road and GST Road. The traffic police personnel deployed at the intersection remain a mute spectator to the traffic violations,” says P. Shahid Raja, a resident of Pallavaram.
To avoid having to take a detour of nearly 2 km, motorists come in wrong direction. The width of the carriageway lanes is suitable only for one-way traffic.
The Chennai Traffic Police have promised to deploy a police personnel near Ismail Sahib Street and Old Trunk Road to prevent traffic violations.