Two years after a direct order from the Chief Minister to ensure safe commutes for students, children attending schools on Chennai's Santhome High Road continue to navigate a perilous journey every day. The area, housing at least eight educational institutions, remains a hotspot for traffic violations, putting young lives at constant risk.
A Legacy of Unheeded Directives and Mounting Perils
In 2022, Chief Minister M K Stalin instructed the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (Cumta) to prioritize student commuting safety. However, residents and school administrators report that the situation on Santhome High Road and its adjoining stretches has only deteriorated. The problems are multifaceted and severe.
The list of hazards is long and alarming: rampant wrong-side driving, lane violations, and speeding buses share the blame with infrastructural neglect. Pavements lack protective railings, footpaths are heavily encroached upon, and ongoing metro work has further narrowed the available pathways. This dangerous cocktail creates a daily nightmare for students stepping out of their school gates.
Critical Junctions Where Danger Lurks
Certain spots on the stretch have earned particular notoriety for being accident-prone. The Karneeswarar Koil Street junction, the Loop Road junction, and the sharp curve near the CSI Thomas School are identified as especially dangerous. Traffic diversions have added to the heavy vehicle volume in the area.
A principal of a prominent school in the locality highlighted a key enforcement failure. "Even though a one-way rule is sometimes in force from Light House to Santhome Church, motorists freely use both lanes," the educator stated, underscoring the blatant disregard for rules.
Enforcement Challenges and Promises of Action
Traffic police acknowledge the issues but point to specific challenges. A constable on duty explained that personnel are posted in shifts at signals and action is taken against wrong-side traffic when spotted. However, he identified the main culprits: "The main culprits are the buses, including school vans, which stop right in the middle of the road."
School heads confirm that the problem is not confined to Santhome High Road. A principal cited Madha Church Street as another example, where residents' cars parked on the roads leave little room for school transport to operate safely.
In response to the growing concerns, authorities have proposed some measures. Traffic Police Inspector P Thirumangalam said they would consider posting extra personnel at the bend near CSI Primary and Nursery School to deter wrong-lane driving. He added that checks at signals during peak hours would be intensified to fine violators.
Mylapore MLA Dha Velu stated that instructions had already been given to make the stretch one-way during school hours. He assured, "I will check the issue and instruct authorities to enforce traffic rules effectively."
The gap between high-level directives and on-ground reality remains stark. For the students of Santhome High Road, the promise of safe commuting made in 2022 is still a distant reality, awaiting effective and sustained enforcement.
