‘Kolapakkam junction operates without rules’

The postulation passing done Vandalur–Kelambakkam Road each time is voluminous, placing this arterial agelong among the busiest connected the city’s confederate fringe. The road, which rolls past respective engineering and aesculapian colleges, schools, a constabulary academy and wood section establishments, connects Vandalur Zoo with Kelambakkam connected Old Mahabalipuram Road (officially called Rajiv Gandhi Salai).

While postulation travel astatine respective intersections on the corridor has improved with the installation of velocity breakers and instauration of basal postulation absorption measures, commuters accidental the Kolapakkam junction continues to stay a large bottleneck.

Unregulated intersection

At Kolapakkam, the lack of postulation signals and accordant constabulary beingness results successful predominant congestion, particularly during greeting and evening highest hours. Motorists criss-cross the junction with small discipline, pedestrians jaywalk unchecked, and schoolhouse vans are often seen overtaking MTC buses and dense vehicles, commuters allege.

The concern worsens arsenic motorists from Perungaluthur usage Gandhi Road to articulation the Vandalur–Kelambakkam High Road, portion dense vehicles moving betwixt Vandalur and Kelambakkam besides participate the aforesaid junction from the other direction. “In the lack of regulation, everyone tries to propulsion done and the junction descends into chaos,” a regular commuter observes.

‘Accident-prone stretch’

Regular users of the roadworthy person flagged the junction arsenic accident-prone. “There person been respective accidents astatine this spot, though thankfully nary has been fatal truthful far,” says Seshadri, who commutes regular done Kolapakkam. He adds that a velocity breaker is besides needed to rein successful speeding vehicles.

Call for signals

Residents and roadworthy information activists person urged the postulation constabulary and highways authorities to instal a postulation awesome astatine the junction to streamline conveyance movement. They person besides called for velocity breakers fitted with reflectors, due lane markings and wide signage to alert motorists approaching the intersection.

In addition, activists person demanded brighter streetlights on the stretch, citing mediocre visibility astatine nighttime arsenic different origin contributing to unsafe conditions.

Commuters accidental timely involution astatine Kolapakkam junction would not lone trim congestion but besides forestall accidents connected a roadworthy that continues to witnesser rising postulation volumes.