Heavy traffic, lack of sidewalks put pedestrians at harm’s way

The arterial road that runs from the Nelson Manickam Road signal to Arcot Road has the distinction of being one that is completely devoid of serviceable footpaths. The pedestrians routinely jostle with the two-way traffic to cross the road or walk along it. 

The road sees heavy footfall as the Nungambakkam Railway Station is very close to it. Those who disembark trains at the station has to walk till Choolaimedu High Road to hail other transportation or to reach their destination. 

The lack of pavements and heavy traffic on the road is a serious safety hazard that has not seen any remedial action this far. Mani Shankar, a college-going student who lives in the area says that one of his friends visiting him suffered an accident recently due to the congestion. 

“My college mate dropped me home in the evening and when he was returning, a couple of schoolchildren ran on the road as they had no pavement to walk on. Flustered, my friend braked the vehicle. It skidded and fell on his leg. Thankfully, he didn’t sustain any serious injuries. 

However, it was a harrowing experience and can be remedied only if the Corporation takes some action soon.” 

The road is home to many shops and eateries, too. There are temples, wedding halls and supermarkets along the stretch as well. 

All the visitors and patrons park their vehicles right in front of the premises, thereby blocking any safe passage for pedestrians. Pedestrians walk on the road, often leading to traffic jams. Residents of the area, too, park their vehicles on the side, leaving little room for walking. 

Shops erect hoardings and name boards in front of their buildings as well. Small eateries can be seen serving customers by setting up stools and chairs by the roadside, and the wasted food and paper plates littered around the area. 

“I have lived in Choolaimedu all my life and this road has always been this way. No one has made any attempt to fix it. People who walk on this road make their way in danger. They don’t really have a choice,” said Jyothimani, a resident of the nearby Neelakantan street. 

In the limited space, you would find street furniture, dustbins, debris and vehicles taking up the area meant for the pedestrians. The narrow road has a small stretch that could count as a pavement but for the broken cement blocks and the electric pole that has been placed in the centre. 

“The people who walk have to fight the traffic. It is tough to run a shop here as there is no space for parking and the people either walk or leave their vehicles in front. The road is also very narrow,” said Shafiq, an eatery owner on Choolaimedu High Road. 

Choolaimedu High Road is in definite need of innovative thinking to accommodate the bustling shops, high footfall and the heavy traffic. Pedestrian safety should be at the forefront instead of being relegated to the margins.