Many sections of Velachery Main Road face traffic snarls. There are various reasons contributing to this. Among the raft of reasons is a small, brick-and-mortar toilet. It is said to be affecting free movement of vehicles in a small, but noticeable manner.
The Corporation toilet, located near Phoenix Market City, has been around for nearly three decades. And, it has clearly seen better days.
In the days when sanitation facilities in Velachery were at a nascent stage, this toilet enjoyed great patronage. Now, only vendors and labourers engaged in construction work nearby are said to be using the toilet. The toilet is visibly lacking in facilities.
K. Jagajothi, a vendor, says, “The toilet lacks basic amenities. At night, anti-social elements consume alcohol there. Though bins are available near the toilets, garbage is being dumped around the bins, making the stretch stinky.”
Cigarette stubs and pieces of liquor bottles bear out Jagathothi’s account.
As the toilet is located on the road and there is no clearing in front of it, those stepping out of the toilet will step right onto the road, taking motorists by surprise.
“It is better to remove the toilet to avoid traffic bottlenecks and ensure free flow of traffic. Instead of this concrete toilet, two e-toilets that lie unused behind the mall could be placed there and put to better use,” Jagajothi added.
The toilet is contributing to the traffic problem in this section in a small way. A defunct traffic signal near Maduvankarai Bridge contributes to it in a big way.
Velu, an auto driver and a resident of New Colony, said, “Lane indiscipline near the bridge is common. Reckless driving and sudden U-turns by some motorists lead to untoward incidents.
The defunct signal should be repaired at the earliest to put an end to this.”
A senior Corporation official at Ripon Buildings said, “The concrete toilet can be replaced with e-toilets, but at an appropriate place along the stretch to ensure traffic flow is not obstructed. A consultation meeting with the traffic police must be organised to decide on the spot where the mobile toilets could be placed. The concrete toilet can be demolished.”
