Road in desperate need of a pavement

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While thousands of vehicles ply on Karuneegar Street, Adambakkam and Medavakkam Main Road, lack of pavements along the two roads is a major hazard.

With the population in Adambakkam, St. Thomas Mount and Nanganallur increasing, the areas have seen more and more vehicles over the years leading to congestion and traffic snarls.

Mr Radha Krishnan, who owns a fancy store on the busy Karuneegar Street, said that there were two schools on the stretch and students found it difficult to walk along the street. “There are huge traffic jams during peak hours as the street is no longer one-way.

Earlier, Karuneegar Street used to be one-way but motorists hardly followed the rules and now even four-wheelers and lorries use the stretch; pedestrians are literally forced to walk on the middle of road,” said Mr Krishnan and added that last week his son had met with an accident when he was trying to cross the road.

“It’s not safe for pedestrians to use the stretch but this is the main road to reach St. Thomas Mount Station and also S.P. Hospital. Though the street is narrow, we hope the Corporation will take some steps to help pedestrians.

Moreover, due to Metro Water works, the street is full of potholes. There are many shops on Karuneegar Street and a lot of people use this street,” said Ms Uma Rani, a resident of Brindavan Nagar.

Another busy stretch that lacks a pavement is Medavakkam Main Road. “As the MRTS work is going on, vehicles have to take a U-turn from Vanuvampet to reach St. Thomas Mount. Pedestrians are helpless and they walk on the middle of the busy road and it’s totally unsafe to use the Main Road.

Thillai Ganga Nagar, Second Main Road and Nanganallur also face the same problem. Though there are a few pavements in Nanganallur, they’re encroached upon,” said Mr Raghavan, a resident of Surendra Nagar.

When contacted, a senior Corporation official assured that steps would be taken to help pedestrians. “Roads will be relaid and we will take necessary steps to help road-users,” he said.