Are Pedestrian Safe On Anna Nagar Roads?

The converting existing two-way traffic systems into one-ways, recently in Anna Nagar was  to ensure smooth flow of traffic. 

But what of the pedestrian? Who cares for him? Every time a proposal for easing traffic issues is taken up, pedestrians get the least benefit.

Due to the Chennai Metro Rail work, a majority of roads in Anna Nagar area have been made one way. Though the one way roads has free and fast flow of traffic, crossing the roads is a big problem. 

Senior citizens find it very difficult to cross 2nd Avenue Road, Shanthi Colony Main Road and also the 13th Main Road stretch. Traffic Police needs to be posted at intersections to  stop  vehicles for a few  minutes to enable pedestrians to cross the roads. 

The Anna Nagar Round Tana junction and the Thirumangalam signal junction has become very dangerous to cross, as vehicles come from all directions. The one-way Second Avenue Road from Thirumangalam to Round Tana has no  traffic signals. The pedestrian depends on traffic signals to cross roads. With traffic signals being done away with, vehicles continues to move fast.

Traffic is diverted into 13th Main Road,  that was  never meant to handle vehicular traffic on a continuous basis. This puts danger in the way of those who walk in these areas regularly. Pedestrian crossings are  at great risk. When the city observed  

 ‘Road Safety Week’ in January 2012,  traffic experts have raised several issues pertaining to road safety, particularly pedestrian safety. Traffic flow on both directions at Fourth Avenue in Shanti Colony are  making life difficult for residents as the road already had several parked vehicles and thus reduced the road space. 

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sunil Kumar has stated that in view of pedestrian safety, the police was going to be very strict about stop-line violations by motorists.