Residents and autorickshaw drivers from Marina Loop Road have urged the Greater Chennai Corporation and Greater Chennai police to remove encroachments along Santhome High Road to ensure free flow of traffic.
“We are not just talking about temporary encroachments like sign boards and small shops on footpaths. The entire road must be surveyed, marked and wherever government land is available, the road should be widened. This is being done in the case of several other roads including the East Coast Road,” said J. Anburose, secretary, CPI (M) of Ward 125.
V. Rajkumar, who uses Santhome High Road to reach the High Court daily, said that the road had 13 schools and traffic jams were a common sight both mornings and evenings. “Almost a decade back, the Corporation had passed a resolution to widen the road. But that is yet to become a reality. Many institutions that line the road on either side have a lot of open space, which could be used to widen the road,” he said.
Raja, an autorickshaw driver of Nochikuppam, said that around 500 – 600 autorickshaws ferried students to schools on Santhome High Road. “The police allows two-way traffic for a short while during school time alone. During other times, if a resident from Nochikuppam has to reach Kutcheri Road, we have to take them via Karaneeswarar Koil Street, Bazaar Road and reach Kutcheri Road. Instead of reaching our destination in under five minutes, we take over 20 minutes and are forced to charge customers more. Traffic police also books cases on both sides if vehicles drive on the wrong side,” he said.
The Neithal Makkal Katchi has submitted petitions to the civic body and the police demanding that the two-way traffic on Santhome High Road and Marina Loop Road be restored and Santhome High Road be widened as promised.
“This is a long-felt demand of residents in the area. All our shopping, hospitals and schools happens in the Mylapore, Luz area to which we dont have proper access. Also, the problem of vehicles proceeding from Light House to Foreshore Estate driving really fast on the Loop Road needs to be resolved. This, despite the speed breakers. If two-way traffic is allowed, it will lead to such vehicles slowing down,” said K. Bharathi of the Katchi.
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