Pedestrians crossing the intersection of E.V.R. Periyar Salai and South Mint Street, Park Town, have to do so at their own risk. Lack of functional pedestrian and traffic signals near the intersection exposes the pedestrians to the risk of being knocked down by vehicles coming from Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore. Earlier, when the stretch was a two-way, pedestrian and traffic signals near the intersection facilitated vehicular traffic from South Mint Street to reach EVR Periyar Salai and and helped pedestrains cross safely. However, after the stretch was made one-way for vehicles to reach the eastern side of E.V.R. Periyar Salai to go to Chennai Egmore, and Anna Salai, vehicles coming from Chennai Central have to go through South Mint Street, and Evening Bazaar Road to to reach the eastern side of E.V.R. Periyar Salai. As a result, motorists coming from Chennai Central and Egmore take a free left turn towards South Mint Street, at a high speed. “Though, there is a warning board near the intersection asking motorists to turn left at a slow speed and a zebra crossing has been created, motorists throw caution to the wind,” C. Sundar, a pedestrian, said. “Adding to the woes of the pedestrians, motorists try to overtake each other in taking a left turn at the intersection. Pedestrians, when crossing are caught in-between a sea of vehicles.” Steps should be taken at the earliest to make the signals functional for the safety of the walkers, he said. A Chennai Traffic Police official said, “Though the stretch at the South Mint Street is a one-way, the signal has to be made functional for the pedestrians to cross the intersection safely.” The official assured to do the needful.

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