Chennai: More than 400 residents of Thiruvanmiyur’s Valmiki Nagar have launched a signature campaign and petitioned the traffic police for a hassle-free commute along Anna Street — a crucial stretch leading to Besant Nagar that is riddled with congestion.The stretch, which houses a temple, a school and a prominent cultural centre, is a scene of chaos in the mornings and evenings, with vehicles stuck bumper to bumper on the road. Frustrated at the congestion, commuters are forced to take the main road to Besant Nagar, which is longer and causes one to spend time at signals. “Large vehicles including ambulances, school buses and water tanker lorries are finding it difficult to navigate the stretch, creating a serious public safety risk,” the petition said. It was addressed to the joint commissioner (traffic) Vijaya Kumar.The congestion is triggered around the temple area, which worsens during weekends, residents said. “There are events at least twice a week. The problem exacerbates as people park their vehicles on the road outside the temple, leaving little room for vehicles to pass through. School-goers find the road non-motorable. If authorities can provide parking space in the land adjoining the Kalakshetra Foundation, it will bring a lot of relief,” said Kalakshetra Colony welfare association president Bala Murali.Ward councillor Kayalvizhi Jayakumar said she had approached traffic officials to make the stretch a one-way during peak hours in the mornings and evenings. “The police denied the request, stating that it would create a hassle for commuters. Thousands of people use the road every day,” she said. “We approached a cultural centre in the area. It has a kuttai poromboke land. Govt says the land belongs to them, but the centre is denying it. If we get hold of the land, the street will see no more traffic woes,” she added. Joint commissioner Vijaya Kumar was not available for comment. Residents, meanwhile, sought for traffic police personnel to be posted in the morning hours to reduce congestion in the area.
