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Ambattur residents have urged authorities to add more speed breakers and medians, particularly in school zones, along arterial roads such as Ambattur-Red Hills Road to ensure the safety of schoolchildren and prevent accidents. The Ambattur-Red Hills Road serves as a vital link to many areas, including Puzhal, Surapet, Kallikuppam, Kathirvedu and Ambattur OT. With several fast-developing areas and schools along the stretch, the road is rapidly transforming into a commercial hub, adding to the traffic bustle. Members of the United Welfare Associations, Ambattur, said that the stretch from Oragadam junction to Puzhal is dotted with many educational institutions. The stretch near Pudur needs speed breakers and pedestrian signals due to the danger posed by speeding vehicles and dense traffic. S. Suresh, the association’s president, said the road also witnessed heavy vehicular movement from Red Hills. Many junctions, particularly near Pudur, are prone to frequent accidents despite having ‘school zone’ signboards. However, CTH Road, the other arterial road, had sufficient speed breakers to regulate vehicle speed. The association and education institutions have been requesting the laying of speed breakers for three years, he said. Residents of Ambattur also stressed the need for a median in Karukku Main Road and called for interior roads to be relaid at the same level as main roads. S. Raghuraman, a resident of Venkatapuram, said the Karukku Main Road, which also has encroachments, is choked with traffic during peak hours, making even short commutes take a minimum of 15 minutes. “While Murugappa Reddy Street has been re-laid with a raised surface, interior streets in the locality like Kanniah Chetty Lane get waterlogged after a short spell of rain,” he said. Responding to residents’ complaints, Ambattur MLA Joseph Samuel said the requirement for additional speed breakers and pedestrian crossings would be discussed with the State Highways department and the police. A proposal to widen the narrow Karukku Main Road is also under scrutiny by the Greater Chennai Corporation following a recent survey of the stretch.
