An illegal autorickshaw stand at the entrance of the subway on Monegar Choultry Road in Old Washermenpet is giving a tough time to pedestrians and patients at the Stanley Medical College Hospital.
The 2.6 km-long subway connects M.C. Road with Cemetery Road in Royapuram and helps residents of Royapuram and Washermenpet access Broadway and NSC Bose Road without taking a roundabout route through Royapuram bridge near Chennai port or Mint flyover near Tondiarpet.
“The subway is a dream come true for residents of north Chennai. However, poor traffic regulation near the subway makes it unsafe ,” said S. Kannagi, a resident of Royapuram.
With Diwali round the corner, the rush on M.C. Road is high due to the presence of a number of textile and garment shops along the two-kilometre stretch.
M.C. Road in Old Washermepet is commonly known as small Purasawalkam for its presence of garment outlets and other consumer products. Residents of Royapuram, Pulianthope, Basin Bridge, Choolai, Mint, New Washermenpet, Tiruvottiyur and Kasimedu throng the shops along the stretch during the weekend and before the festival.
However, haphazard parking by autorickshaws at the entrance of the subway prevent not only pedestrians from using the footpath along the subway to reach Old Jail Road and a entry gate to the Stanley hospital but also blocks the space for other road users including Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses.
“Adequate traffic policemen would be deployed on the congested portion of the subway and the stretch. Further, autorickshaw drivers would be asked to park some distance away from the subway to allow easy traffic movement,” said a police officer.
