Students jump over medians, dodge vehicles on 100 Feet Road for want of pedestrian crossings

During the morning rush hour, around 8.20 a.m., Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, commonly known as 100 Feet Road, in Anna Nagar West turns hectic, even for bystanders. Students from Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) and their parents, staff from VR Mall and nearby hospitals get off the buses and scramble across the road, mostly jumping over medians and barriers to reach their schools and workplaces on the other side, as there is no pedestrian crossing in sight.

Meanwhile, construction work as part of the Chennai Metro Rail’s phase II project is also under way on the arterial road at Thirumangalam.

“There is this constant fear within me whenever I jump over the median, and tackle the busy road to get to my school. It is like switching to survival mode,” says a Class 10 student from KV school, who takes the bus from Villivakkam. “During the evenings, we take the bus from the CPWD Quarters Bus Stop, which is on the same road as the school, so that is safe,” he says.

“The students have to reach school before the assembly hour begins, so we usually jump over the barriers even when there are cars plying the bridge. We can’t take the longer route during rush hour,” says a parent, as she crosses the road with her child in primary class.

Shwetha K., a nursing student who jumps across alongside the school students, says this has been their morning reality for months now. “I have not seen any traffic police here. There should be a signal and a small pedestrian crossing just for the students. Since the bus stop is right opposite the school, mall, and hospitals, it is a hassle to walk or ride till Koyambedu to take a U-turn,” says Ms. Shwetha.

Just within a span of 30 minutes in the morning, many school children from Ambattur, Padi, Retteri, Manali, Vinayagapuram, and Villivakkam get off buses at their school, while a handful of parents take time dropping off their children by taking the wrong route and driving against one-way traffic. Additionally, a few buses tend to stop not at the designated CPWD Quarters Bus Stop, but where the bridge starts.

Unsafe routine

Jumping over medians and crossing the road amid swarming vehicles on both sides has become the routine, one undeniably unsafe, says the pedestrians. “I slipped and fell while jumping over the median yesterday. Thankfully, passers-by helped me up immediately,” says a cleaning staff at VR Mall, showing her scratched arms. “A small pedestrian crossing and a signal is all we ask for,” she adds.

A Chennai Metro Rail Limited official said they would look into the issue, and also coordinate with the Greater Chennai Police to create a pedestrian crossing.