The signal-free interior roads are turning into a regular thoroughfare for motorists who try snake through these lanes to avoid the busy main roads, putting themselves and other commuters in harm’s way.
These violations are becoming common at Anna Nagar West bus terminus. Motorists heading towards Padi are often at the risk of running into those driving on the opposite direction towards Tirumangalam to reach the School Road.
As per the existing traffic arrangement, motorists from Padi can take right turn only beneath the Tirumangalam flyover, a distance of around 1 km from Padi flyover, to go to places such as Mogappair, School Road, Padi Pudhu Nagar and Anna Nagar Western Extension. To avoid taking a detour, motorcyclists especially office-goers and parents drive on the wrong side of J.N. Main Road at Anna Nagar West bus terminus signal and proceed straight to School Road and also other key areas including Mogappair and TVS Colony.
The short cut reduces the total distance to reach these areas by half.
“Such motorists driving on the wrong side of the road put other passengers waiting at the entrance of the terminus at risk,” says V. Sankar, a motorist from Anna Nagar.
Most of the traffic violators even take a ‘U’ turn, a few hundred metres before the traffic signal at Anna Nagar West bus terminus. Traffic policemen cannot cross the busy stretch to catch these violators due to continuous movement of vehicles. ‘As a result, most of the traffic violators resorting to wrong side driving go unpunished, motorists say.
Every day, on an average, more than two lakh vehicles including MTC buses, container lorries from neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh (coming via Tada and Red Hills) and Karnataka (via Sriperamburdur) and two-wheelers going down J.N. Main Road between Guindy in the south of the city and Puzhal in the west, use the J.N. Main Road.
“Steps will be taken to prevent wrong-way driving,” police said.