Unauthorised parking of cabs, maxi vans and autorickshaws along Jawaharlal Nehru Main Road, especially between Periyar Pathai and Vadapalani junction, is rampant with the result that vehicular movement gets sluggish during the busy hours of the day.
As the stretch between Periyar Pathai and Vadapalani junction is wide, cab and auto-rickshaw drivers find it convenient to park their vehicles there, which causes a great deal of inconvenience to Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) commuters. There is an MTC stopover near Periyar Pathai junction. But MTC drivers are unable to halt their buses at the dedicated bays due to unauthorised parking of vehicles. Due to this, commuters have to run and board the buses.
“As a garage is located near the Periyar Pathai junction, many vehicles are parked along the carriageway,” says S. Vinoth, a resident of Ashok Nagar. Commuters also point out that as the stopover lacks a shelter and seating arrangements. “Steps will be taken to curb illegal parking on the stretch soon,” says a State Highways official.