Adyar roads a pain for pedestrians

Chennai: Four pedestrian accidents have occurred in a span of two months on the roads of Shastri Nagar in Adyar. As phase 2 metro rail work advances on LB Road, MTC buses and other vehicles have been diverted to Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road. Encroachments and traffic violators, however, have rendered walking on these stretches hazardous.Traffic police have made the 60ft-wide Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road one-way from the Adyar telephone exchange on LB Road. Consequently, vehicles travelling from the Adyar signal towards Thiruvanmiyur must enter the parallel Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road for at least a kilometre before turning right to go back to LB Road.It is a residential area with many senior citizens. "There are many who violate the one-way rule that harms pedestrians," said T D Babu, an activist from the area. Several inner lanes branch from 1st Main Road, and motorists may not always be aware of the one-way rule. Furthermore, vehicles enter Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road from the opposite direction, via 9th Lane from LB Road, causing traffic congestion and accidents.When TOI visited Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road on Thursday, several vehicles were approaching from the opposite direction. The pavements were encroached by vendors, banners and illegally parked vehicles. Pedestrians lack sufficient space on the road.Earlier this week, three pedestrians were injured on the road as they were forced onto the carriageway of the one-way road due to encroached pavements and oncoming motorists.When contacted, a traffic police officer from the J2 Adyar station stated, "We have deployed four traffic police officers to monitor the area from 6am to 10pm daily. We will address the issue."Residents in the area want speed breakers installed and additional signage put up. "A zebra crossing between the 4th and 5th cross streets branching from Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road is essential. Two speed breakers must be installed at the four-way Shastri Nagar-MG Road junction in Adyar," said Babu. "Encroachments must be cleared from the pavements."Additionally, signboards are absent on the cross streets, including barricades indicating the one-way on the Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road. "Signboards, more traffic police monitoring and CCTV cameras must be installed here."
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