Chennai: The Saidapet-Guindy stretch of GST Road has become a motorist’s nightmare, as rampant wrong-side driving underneath CMRL pillars goes unchecked.Motorists travelling from Saidapet towards Guindy are increasingly riding on the wrong side along CMRL pillars to avoid traffic congestion near Raj Bhavan, putting themselves and others at serious risk. Instead of waiting in traffic on Taluk Office Road in Saidapet, two-wheelers and even autorickshaws take a wrong-side to enter Velachery Main Road, a designated one-way, and reach Guindy. Vehicles speeding along Anna Salai are often caught off guard by vehicles emerging from the opposite direction. Commuters say the violation is especially rampant during peak hours. “I have to be extra cautious while taking this route. I always slow down because vehicles suddenly appear from the wrong side,” said Murugan, a shopkeeper who regularly travels on the stretch.
Violators also enter Velachery Main Road from Taluk Office Road. This not only disrupts traffic flow but also increases the risk of head-on collisions and pile-ups. Stalin, a regular commuter from Nandanam, said the absence of traffic police at key points emboldens motorists to flout rules daily. “Wrong-side driving reduces reaction time for motorists and can result in fatal accidents. A minor miscalculation at high speeds can lead to serious injuries,” said Kamalakannan, a transport activist.Residents and commuters urged Greater Chennai Traffic Police to deploy personnel during peak hours and strictly enforce traffic regulations.
