The Hindu : Traffic snarls affect bus services

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Traffic snarls affect bus services

By P. Oppili

CHENNAI, MARCH 20. Frequent traffic jams at the Padi level-crossing junction have been affecting Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus services resulting in revenue loss for the corporation.

According to MTC sources, buses from Red Hills and Broadway, heading towards Ambattur and Korattur, are the ones affected by the snarls during peak hours.

On an average, 35 services are affected daily. The late running of buses has resulted in reduction of the number of trips and the ensuing revenue loss. The situation is worst during weekends, when goods carriers enter the city in large numbers, using Inner Ring Road. Similarly, traffic will be affected when they go out of the city on Mondays, say the sources.

One of the reasons for the problem is the narrowing of road near the railway level-crossing, say road users. The broad road from the Padi side narrows down at the level-crossing gate and paralyses movement of vehicles, say police personnel manning the junction.

The presence of three marriage halls close to the level-crossing on Madras-Tiruvallur High Road at Villivakkam and three more on the National Highway 205 (on Padi side) adds to the confusion. During marriage seasons, cars and other vehicles coming to the halls are parked on the road.

Road-over-bridge mooted

Urban road traffic experts suggest that a long-term solution to this problem is to construct a road-over-bridge (ROB), which will not cost more than Rs. 20-25 crores. An ROB has to be constructed at Villivakkam similar to those at Tindivanam, Coimbatore and MIT Gate at Chromepet, experts add.

The ROB will be at an elevated level, at a height of 6.5 metres, facilitating free flow of traffic.

Obstructions caused by parking of vehicles on the road by those visiting the marriage halls on both sides of MTH Road has to be viewed seriously. Police should initiate severe action against those parking their vehicles causing hardship to other road users, say the experts.

Last year, the City Traffic Police conducted a census at the junction, which revealed that more than a lakh vehicles are passing through the stretch every day.

G.U.G. Sastry, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), says, "In October, I wrote to railway authorities to widen the road at the level-crossing. At present the road width here is 37 feet and we suggested that it be widened to 50 feet."

A meeting was held last week in which State Government departments such as Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Highways, traffic police, besides Railway officials, participated. Congestion was one of the major issues discussed at the meeting. The authorities were well aware of the problem at the Padi junction, which was also discussed, Mr. Sastry said.

Besides, whenever a train passes through Anna Nagar, the gate is closed, leading to traffic jam.

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