Southern Railway to Reduce Brightness of Tirusulam LED Screen After Motorist Complaints

Southern Railway officials have said the brightness of the newly installed LED screen at the Tirusulam ticket counter complex will be reduced, after motorists raised concerns that the display was distracting drivers on GST Road.

LED screen near flyover worries motorists

The large LED display was installed recently at the Southern Railway’s Tirusulam ticket counter complex and is now being flagged as a risk for motorists travelling on GST Road from Meenambakkam towards Tambaram.

The screen faces north and is located just below the flyover, after the Meenambakkam grounds, placing it along a busy approach used by commuters on the stretch.

Motorists said the sharp brightness from the large screen can distract drivers, particularly while they are approaching the signal.

Jayaram, a street vendor in the vicinity, said a woman and her child fell from their vehicle recently after being distracted by the LED display.

“Fortunately, they escaped with minor injuries,” he said.

Motorists have suggested that the brightness of the display be reduced or that it be replaced with a conventional hoarding.

Another LED display located about 100 metres away towards the south was seen as comparatively less of a concern by motorists.

When contacted, Southern Railway officials said the hoarding had been approved as per norms.

However, the officials said the brightness of the LED screen would be reduced, taking public safety into consideration.

Traffic police personal assured that they would coordinate with the Railways to ensure road safety.

Wrong-side movement, parking and sudden turns add to risk

The LED display is only the latest addition to a set of problems that commuters say they encounter along the busy stretch, including vehicles moving in the wrong direction, haphazard parking and jaywalking.

The issues become more pronounced near the Pallavaram flyover, close to the Air Force Police headquarters, where heavy vehicles frequently take a sudden right turn to access the flyover.

N. Ganesh, who travels daily between Chromepet and Meenambakkam, said some drivers hesitate and then swerve abruptly while trying to take the direction they want to go.

“Some drivers hesitate and suddenly swerve while trying to take the direction they want to go,” he said.

The sudden turns, wrong-side movement and haphazard parking together add to the concerns of motorists already negotiating the stretch near Tirusulam and Pallavaram.

Jaywalking is also a concern in the same area.

Several people coming from the eastern side cross GST Road to reach the Tirusulum Metro Railway station despite the presence of a subway.

Metro Rail commuters said the subway involved a considerable detour.

Derek, a regular commuter, said better connectivity between the railway and Metro stations would help.

“A skywalk or escalator-friendly connectivity from Tirusulam Railway Station to the Metro station will be of great help,” he said.

Junction turns chaotic during peak hours

About 100 metres further south, the GST Road-Acharya Thulsi Road junction, also known as Pallavaram Market Road, has a signal that motorists say is of little use during peak hours.

Xavier, an automobile trader in the vicinity, said the junction turns chaotic when traffic is heavy.

“It becomes a free-for-all during peak hours, with U-turns and vehicles reversing and cutting across the intersection,” he said.

Further south, motorists also face severe bottlenecks and a narrow stretch of road after crossing the flyover.

The congestion is not limited to one point, as motorists also face difficulties at the junctions near Saravana Stores, Chromepet Railway Station and Tambaram Sanatorium.

The Highways Department has been working on widening the road by removing encroachments along the stretch from the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road flyover towards Pallavaram.

Activists want that work to be expedited in view of the steady increase in traffic.

Their demand for faster work comes amid complaints from motorists about bottlenecks, narrow road space, unsafe crossings and chaotic movement at junctions along the corridor.

Commuters seek coordinated response

Selvam, a daily-wage worker from Irumbuliyur, said the journey towards Tambaram leaves him drained.

“By the time I reach the Tambaram bus stand, which is a hell for commuters, I feel exhausted for the day,” he said.

Activists and motorists have called for better coordination among the Highways Department, Southern Railway and Tambaram Corporation to address the recurring problems along the stretch.

Their concerns cover the LED screen, unsafe pedestrian movement, traffic violations, bottlenecks and junction-level congestion reported from Tirusulam towards Tambaram.

As a long-term measure, activists have suggested constructing an elevated corridor towards Chengalpattu via Kilambakkam.

The immediate official response so far is that Southern Railway will reduce the brightness of the LED screen, while traffic police personal said they would coordinate with the Railways to ensure road safety.

Source: The Hindu