The narrow portion near the Thirunindravur junction was not covered by the road-widening project. Photo: D. MadhavaN The Thirunindravur junction near Vela Theatre on the Chennai–Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road is becoming dangerous for motorists due to the lack of safety features, including a concrete median, warning sign boards, street lights and reflectors. This section, narrow and only 100 metres long, witnesses, on an average, three accidents every fortnight. Accidents are often the result of motorcycles skidding on the sandy two-lane stretch. Widening of this section of the road can go some way towards addressing this problem. While the State Highways Department widened a section of CTH Road, from Padi to Thirunindravur, it failed to include this narrow portion near the Thirunidravur junction in the widening project. At present, a pair of steel barricades is the only protection available for motorists on the narrow bend at the junction. “After sunset, it becomes even more difficult to navigate this stretch,” says S. Arun, a motorist from Pattabiram. According to State Highways officials, the multi-crore project to widen CTH Road stopped a few hundred metres from the Thirunindravur junction, near Vela Theatre. To extend the widening work, a fresh and permission and sanction of adequate funds from the State government are necessary. A proposal widening the stretch between Thirunindravur and Tiruvallur, a distance of around 25 km, is pending with the State government for many years, due to lack of funds, government officials said. Under the project, the existing two-lane bitumen-topped stretch will be converted into a six-lane stretch, increasing its width from 10 metres to 18 metres, at a cost of ?98 crore. The state government gave its nod for this project last year and also allotted a compensation package of ?168 crore for those who lost their land in the project. The project included widening and bitumen-topping the stretch, constructing stormwater drains, a median, reflectors, street lamps and shifting charges for Tangedco as it will replace existing Tangedco poles with new ones. After a consultation with the city traffic police, adequate traffic points will also be provided.

Stay updated with all the Chennai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.