CHENNAI: Residents of Nandambakkam want a traffic signal to be installed at the junction at Mount-Poonamallee Salai near a popular trade centre venue, as they claim that it has become a deadly zone leading to many accidents. Despite many appeals made by the Nandambakkam town panchayat to the then Suburban police, the residents claim that they are yet to see a traffic signal post in the junction. But with the merger of the suburban police and the city police, people are hopeful that a solution will be found.The residents in and around the Mount-Poonamallee Salai at Nandambakkam allege that a junction deserves a traffic signal as many pedestrians cross the place through the day. The number of persons using the pedestrian crossing increases during peak hours. “Many school children use that junction to cross the road as there are many schools around. Many residents from the Nandambakkam village too take the same route to ration shops and other places. Even those who come to the trade centre venue too have to use it,” says Selvam, a resident of Nandambakkam. The residents claim that at least 15 accidents take place in the junction in a month out of which at least two are fatal and most of the victims are pedestrians.However, the residents point out that the motorists are not to be blamed for the accidents, as they would not be able to control speed when they leave from the signal at the nearby Manapakkam junction.Police sources, for their part, say, "When the suburban police Commissionerate existed, it was decided a year back that 13 traffic signals would be installed and inaugurated at various places in the suburban areas which included the junction at Nandambakkam. Twelve traffic signals were inaugurated then. But the one at the Nandambakkam Mount-Poonamallee road was only installed and never inaugurated for use,” says a police official.After some time, the signal post at the junction was removed and was installed at the Manapakkam junction for use. “When the motorists leave the signal at Manapakkam junction, they can’t slow down at the junction near the trade centre venue as it is close by. Now that commissionerates have been merged, we hope we get the signal soon,” says another resident Kumar.S Sekar, President of Nandambakkam Town Panchayat, who filed a complaint a few days before the suburban Commissionerate was merged, says, “We have appealed many times but no solution has been found so far and the accidents still continue to happen. We want appropriate action to be taken.” With the commissionerates being merged, the residents are hopeful that their problem will be solved.“It is said that the commissionerates were merged for better policing. Hope they solve our problem that has been pending for more than two years,” says Kamala, a motorist, who uses the road regularly.
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