Metro Rail traffic changes at OMR in Sholinganallur: residents hail tweaks at two minor T-junctions

While creating two U-turns on OMR, the traffic police also addressed the issue of congestion on the service lane around Elcot Avenue Main Road and Model School Road

Until recently, the Sholinganallur intersection was largely closed. The closure is now total. Vehicular traffic glides past and around junction but cannot cut through it in any direction. The advent of Metro Rail Work has augured in the total closure of the junction. Reportedly, a pillar would come up smack in the middle of the junction.

Traffic realignment at the junction has caused corresponding changes around it. Roads nearby have also been carted into the new arrangement.

The most striking alterations are to be witnessed at the entrance of Elcot Avenue Main Road and on the service road near Model School Road.

The entrance of Elcot Avenue Main Road resembles a curved nozzle with concrete barricades having been placed in a manner tracing a curvature. Elcot Avenue Main Road has been made a one-way with vehicular traffic moving out of it towards the service lane. Model School Road remains a two-way road, but a right turn into the service lane has been disabled with the placement of concrete barriers near the foot of the foot overbridge. As a corollary, a left turn from the service lane into Model School Road has also been disabled. Motorists can turn left from Rajiv Gandhi Salai into Model School Road.

To all appearances, these measures place restrictions on the movements of residents in areas that both roads lead to. However, these residents are appreciative of these changes. For two reasons. One, these changes were carried out following a consultation with them. Two, these changes are part of a larger traffic rearrangement closer to their neck of their woods that in the final analysis enables smoother movement for them on Rajiv  Gandhi Salai as well as the service lane on their side of the road.

R. Ramaswamy, a reisdent of Kumaraswamy Nagar points out that the traffic police held a consultation with residents, and it had faces from Elcot Avenue, Kumaraswamy Nagar and Classic Farms, there aread connected to Elcot Avenue Main Road and Model School Road.

He explains: “As the changes have put an end to congestion around the entrances of Elcot Avenue Main Road and Model School Road during rush hour, residents have welcomed them. The U-turns in front of Trends showroom are making a huge difference. Motorists coming from ECR can take a U-turn and head towards  Karapakkam. The other U-turn is of immense help to residents of our region, as it enables movement towards  Navalur and Siruseri. Software professionals from our areas who work at offices in Siruseri are impressed with this provision as it spares them the trouble of taking a U-turn in front of Vivanta.”