CHENNAI: Travel time on the Old Mahabalipuram Road has reduced further with the doing away of a signal at Navalur and the introduction of u-turns.
No right turn is allowed at the Navalur signal towards Thalambur. Vehicles have to travel farther down and take a u- turn at the Navalur toll plaza. Another u- turn has been set up 100 metre north of the Navalur signal in front of Vivira Mall. Vehicles coming from Thalambur to OMR won’t be allowed to take a right turn. They can take a free left turn. Also, a free u-turn can be taken in front of Vivira Mall.
This is the sixth place on the OMR where signals have been removed and u-turns have been introduced. Signals were removed from Madhya Kailash to Navalur in a phased manner by the Chennai city traffic police and the Tambaram city traffic police. Signals at SRP Tools Junction, Perungudi, Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur and Semmancherry were removed earlier and introduced u-turns.
Software engineer Ganapathy Ram of Trichy, who stays in apartment in Navalur with his family, said, “The new diversion at the Navalur signal has reduced my travel by at least 20 minutes.”
Schoolteacher Prabhavathy said, “Travel time has reduced overall. However, the metro rail work has eaten up the lanes of the OMR.”
