In a trial, Pondy Bazaar made one-way

CHENNAI: Pondy Bazaar, from Panagal Park till Dr Nair junction, has been made one-way and the trial began on Monday. Entry of vehicles will be allowed only from Mount Road.

The four inner lanes intersecting at Dr Nair junction, such as Sivanyanam Street and Muthu Krishna Salai, have also been blocked. Vehicles must go up to Dr Nair junction near Residency Towers to enter Thyagaraya Road, if they are travelling from Panagal Park or Venkatanarayana Road.

“This is a trial run until the pedestrian plaza work is complete. Earlier, we had blocked certain inner lanes for the work and commuters did not face much issues then. This arrangement will reduce congestion on Thyagaraya Road and if it is acceptable to the shop owners, we will make it permanent,” said a corporation official.

A senior official, however, stated that this was a temporary measure until the completion of work.

Ashwathy Dilip of Institute for Transportation and Development Policy said, “It is meant to reduce confusion. Moreover, parking on both sides of the road is allowed now,” she said.

While Thyagaraya Road was congestion-free, motorists and bikers faced problems navigating the inner lanes to enter Pondy Bazaar.

Mohammed Sikandar Kassim, a shop owner on the road, said they are losing business because of this project. “There’s no adequate parking space because of the ongoing work and with it becoming one-way, it will add to the existing confusion,” he said.

Residents of T Nagar are also not happy with the move. Vijayalakshmi, a homemaker, said, “Right now, there is confusion as we don’t know which road has been blocked and which is open to traffic.”

Ramesh M, a commuter, said not just the shops, access to basic amenities like hospitals, schools, banks, post office and other offices in the area has now been blocked. The civic body should at least inform people before making such decisions, he said.

Not all are unhappy. Auto driver Suresh wants it to be implemented on other roads as well.

“People should understand that with increasing vehicular traffic, such areas should be made one-way as it saves a lot of travel time,” he said.