In a daily display of danger, scores of commuters at the Natesan Park bus stop in Chennai's bustling T Nagar area are being forced to sprint across a busy one-way road. This perilous routine has become necessary because several Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses are failing to halt at the designated stop, choosing instead to stop abruptly on the opposite lane.
The Root of the Chaos: Metro Work and Route Diversions
The core of the problem began with the commencement of the Panagal Park metro rail project. Since then, all MTC buses have been diverted via Thyagaraya Road and Thanickachalam Road before entering Venkatnarayana Road. This road is a one-way stretch running from Anna Salai to Panagal Park, with the official bus stop located on the left lane outside Natesan Ground.
However, buses on key routes including 11G, 11H, 12X, and 12G are frequently ignoring this stop. Instead, drivers are halting on the right lane. This affects a significant number of services, with more than 50 buses daily that connect T Nagar to crucial hubs like Koyambedu, the Airport, Broadway, and Central station.
A Daily Gamble with Safety
The consequence of this irregular stopping is a serious public safety crisis. For every bus that skips the proper stop, 15 to 20 commuters are compelled to make a frantic dash. They must cross the busy road and even jump over the central median to board from the wrong side.
"This sudden change of lane makes commuters, including aged people and students, hurry across the road amidst fast-moving traffic," said G Venkatesh, a regular commuter. He highlighted the absence of a traffic signal and the high speed of vehicles on the one-way road, significantly increasing the risk of accidents. "Some people miss their buses because they cannot hurry and cross the road in time," he added.
Compounding the issue is the noticeable lack of traffic police personnel to manage the chaotic situation or penalize drivers who stop incorrectly. Furthermore, the evening hours see severe congestion as heavy vehicles and cars diverted from Kannadasan Street converge at the Venkatnarayana Road junction near the park.
Official Responses and Resident Confusion
The situation has left local residents and commuters in a state of uncertainty. B Kannan, secretary of the T Nagar Residents' Welfare Association, expressed that residents are "clueless" about whether the one-way system is permanent or if the road will revert to a two-way flow.
When approached, T Nagar MLA J Karunanidhi stated he had not received any formal complaints regarding the matter but assured, "I will anyway ask MTC to take action." Echoing this, MTC Managing Director T Prabhushankar confirmed that the corporation would look into the issue and take necessary corrective steps.
The ongoing ordeal underscores a critical gap in urban transport coordination during infrastructure projects, putting the daily safety of hundreds of citizens at risk.
