CHENNAI: Chaos and confusion reigned supreme at Anna Nagar for the second time in 10 days, with police introducing elaborate traffic diversions to facilitate Metro Rail works on Thursday. Traffic in the upmarket area was thrown out of gear for hours as motorists groped with multiple “take diversion” and “no-entry” signs. Thousands of commuters, including bus passengers and pedestrians, who were caught unawares, went through enormous hardships to wriggle out of the crammed roads. “I am driving for more than an hour in and around Anna Nagar to reach Thirumangalam,” Namasivayam, a two-wheeler rider said. Encountering two diversions, the carpenter from neighbouring Arumbakkam rued, “Just for accessing the Thirumangalam-Mogappair Road, which is just a stone’s throw from the 16th Main Road, I am taking a detour of about a kilometre.”As per the new arrangements, Jawaharlal Nehru Road (100 Feet Road) has been made one way from 2nd Avenue and there will be no entry from 18th Main Road. Vehicles proceeding from Padi flyover towards Koyambedu will turn left to Anna Nagar 18th Main Road and join 13th Main Road and turn right on to 2nd Avenue and take left towards 100 Feet Road to Koyambedu or right to Thirumangalam.While vehicles were moving amid bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 13th Main Road, traffic came to a grinding halt on the sixth avenue. Adding fuel to the fire were the white-coloured share autos that were constantly stopping to pick up commuters amidst the chaos.The condition of pedestrians was pathetic since they were forced to walk on the cramped roads struggling to cross the bylanes.IAS aspirant Samitha was slogging for quite sometime to cross the 13th Main Road to reach her coaching centre. “The traffic police must be educated on the exact traffic changes, as some misguide people to wrong directions,” she said.Many MTC bus users had to tackle a different problem. Clueless about the bus stops, Karthick, a software professional said, “I am blank about where to board a bus. It is confusing.”As Chandran, owner of a medical shop, said, “Office goers were seen shuttling between the 100 Feet Road and 13th Main Road desperately waiting for buses to Sholinganallur.”At Shanthi Colony, vehicles had a tough time reaching Thirumangalam.Additional Commissioner (Traffic), Sanjay Arora said things would get back to normal in four days. Similar diversions were introduced on the Jawaharlal Nehru Road and 13th Main Road on December 4. However, they were withdrawn the very next day, following opposition from the public. The diversions were re-introduced on Thursday, covering almost the entire area with prior publicity through the media and pamphlets.
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