Traffic changes on Marina Loop Road put motorists to hardship

Fishermen living on the Marina Loop Road raise complaints about the traffic changes being put in place for various reasons.

“Almost every evening, the police are placing barricades on the eastern side of the road and blocking a major portion of it. This is to help beach-goers. We do not have any objection to people coming to the beach. But blocking those two lanes has led to vehicles using only the other side, often causing traffic jams. Since we cannot take the Santhome High Road even at night, we have to take this road,” Maran, an autorickshaw driver, said.

After the Greater Chennai Corporation made the Marina a Blue Flag beach, many traders moved to the Loop Road, but they face space constraints. The local women who sell fish find it difficult to get space. “Only some traders use the modern market constructed by the Corporation. It is not popular among vendors. The design is flawed, and so many vendors opt for the roadside,” said community leader K. Bharathi.

With thousands of fisherfolk families living along the road, accessing schools on Santhome High Road has become a difficult proposition. Children are forced to take a detour via Dooming Kuppam.

“Two-wheelers can take the small internal roads. But the police barricades the road near the Light House. Two cars cannot travel on a smaller street at the same time. The police need to study the traffic flow of area and ensure that schoolchildren and their parents can use the road comfortably,” said Narayanan, another resident.

Adyar resident Natarajan said the promise of widening the Santhome High Road remains unfulfilled.

“Every Mayor and MLA make this promise. There are six schools along the stretch, and since VIP vehicles take the road on a daily basis, traffic restrictions are being imposed by the police. But they don’t take into consideration other road users. Even schoolchildren who travel by autorickshaws are put to hardship. A long-term solution must be found for smooth travel on the road,” he said.