‘Two-way traffic allowed on Pallavaram flyover’

With traffic jams becoming a common sight every evening in Pallavaram, motorists bound for Tambaram on the GST Road have urged the government to allow two-way traffic on the flyover.

Long-time resident PT Ramakrishnan said that vehicles going south were not able to take the flyover, leading to traffic jam on the road. “They have switched off traffic signals at the old police station and Areva, leading to congestion on the road. Motorists going to Pozichalur, Anakaputhur and Kundrathur are forced to indulge in southbound traffic for about 2 km, which is unnecessary,” he said.

Activist V. Santhanam said Fridays were worse as around 1,000 shops at the weekly market in Pallavaram attracted large crowds. “The shops that were in the old Moore Market have been relocated here, causing hundreds of temporary outlets to sell literally everything under the sun. This is a very popular weekly market and steps are being taken to regulate traffic. It is important because it involves the livelihood of traders. With a history of 200 years, it is part of the heritage of the locality,” he said.

CITU Pallavaram Shanti Traders Union President Y. Ismail said they were petitioning the government to make it a two-lane flyover and allow two-way traffic.

Originally to trade cattle and was started by the British, he pointed out that the weekly market was shifted to several places in Pallavaram. “It is after a lot of efforts that it is at its present place. It serves the poorest of the poor who can buy a week’s provision and vegetables at a very low price,” he said.

A traffic expert said ideally the flyover should have been a two-way facility. “Even now the highway department can change its use. It is not allowed buses and heavy vehicles to go on it,” he said.

A traffic police source said they had received requests from local residents. “We will prepare a proposal and send it to the state highways department, which will have to take a final call,” the source said.