The Hindu : New traffic regulation proves ineffective

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 18, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

New traffic regulation proves ineffective
By P.Oppili

CHENNAI, FEB. 17. Anna Salai, say traffic studies, is handling three times the traffic that it can. It is also the site of many an experiment, starting with the four-lane system introduced by the previous AIADMK Government.

Today, however, the latest round of experimentation has turned this showpiece road in Chennai into a tension-filled driving experience where bad road conditions are only matched by rule violations and a passive police force.

The Police changed, a couple of months ago, the system of turns into Royapettah side for motorists. Whites road was made a no turn area and instead, the vehicles were asked to take Thiru-Vi-Ka Road and in the other direction, through Smith Road.

This changed the dynamics of traffic flow from the TVS point right through to Safire, and forced motorists to use narrower roads than those already available. And what was more, a new traffic signal point was created between Arts College and TVS, when existing signals themselves were not being adhered to.

While introducing the system in October, the then City Police Commissioner, K.Muthukaruppan had said that congestion on the road was caused by the narrow width of Thiru-Vi-Ka Road and existence of frequent right turns at close intervals on Anna Salai. The Police said 12,000 vehicles were taking right turns at every intersection during peak hours on the stretch between Safire and TVS, leading to blocks at each point.

While minor relief has been provided under the system at the turn into Whites Road, the usual block at Peters Road junction, a new block at Thiru-Vi-Ka Road junction and a new dangerous crossing at Smith Road was created.

Due to the slim flow of traffic from the narrow Smith Road side into Anna Salai, motorists using the artery in both directions tend not to stop for the red light at this junction. During the day, the Police often switch off the newly installed signal here and resort to manual regulation, springing a rude surprise on Northbound motorists who cannot see the policeman standing on the Southbound side. At night, it is a no-man's land, as no Police monitoring of the traffic takes place here.

The problem of pedestrians getting minimal space on Thiru-Vi-Ka Road has also created a hazard as they are forced to bunch up on the road, affecting the flow of vehicles.

One of the difficulties raised by the Police as a reason for the new arrangement remaining ineffective, is the bus stop located near Thiru-Vi-Ka Road. A proposal to shift the bus stop was made, but this remained with the MTC, a police officer said.

Some change of route of buses via Whites Road rather than their existing Safire stop has also been suggested, but not acted upon, according to the Police.

The new bottlenecks which have arisen on Anna Road add to the existing problems that the Highways Department and the Police are yet to tackle. Anna Road suffers from a serious neglect of its service roads, which not only punishes those who are forced to use it to reach offices and establishments alongside, but prompts cyclists and other vehicles to shift to the lanes meant for buses and cars, endangering road safety.

Over the years, the Highways Department has allowed the four-lane system to virtually decay, as the metal dividers between the service road and the other lanes have been removed, and gaps created to allow vehicles to enter at TVS and opposite LIC.

Careless motorists enter the lanes through these gaps at high speed, creating potential accident situations. Neither the Police, nor the other departments involved have acted to set the problems right, on perhaps the best known road in the city.

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