CHENNAI: In an attempt to reduce vehicular congestion along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), the traffic police have made a few diversions at Sholinganallur junction.
Vehicles travelling from Medavakkam towards East Coast Road (ECR) can travel straight after crossing the Sholinganallur traffic signal. They can also turn right to reach Navalur. They need not turn left at Sholinganallur to make a U-turn on OMR Service Road to reach ECR or Navalur.
Also, those returning to Chennai from Mamallapuram or Puducherry via ECR need not turn left at Sholinganallur junction to make a U-turn near Aavin traffic signal. They can simply wait for the Sholinganallur signal to turn green and turn right to go to Thoraipakkam. Others can travel straight to Medavakkam.
Only those travelling from Navalur towards ECR will take a slight detour. So far, they could turn right at the Sholinganallur junction. Now, they must take the compulsory left there, take a U-turn (just before the Medavakkam toll plaza) to reach ECR.
A traffic police release said the diversions followed a drastic change in traffic pattern along OMR soon after user fee collection was cancelled at four toll plazas on the stretch.
Police conducted a volume survey during peak hours and found traffic diversions could help ease the vehicular flow.
Harsha Koda from the Federation of OMR Residents Association (FOMRA) said that by asking ECR-bound vehicles (from Navalur) to take a U-turn near the Medavakkam toll plaza is going to be difficult because that part of the road has not been widened due to encroachments. "We were not consulted before making these changes," he said.
Urban traffic planner Suresh Menon said that they have got back to the earlier traffic arrangement which was in place two years ago. "Instead of waiting for two signals, vehicles will now wait for four signals. So, this is not going to solve the problem," he said.
