Finally, Old Trunk Road gets street lights

The intersection of Old Trunk Road and the road leading to the Pallavaram railway station remains poorly illuminated at night.
| Photo Credit:
T. Arvind

Old Trunk Road, a key link connecting the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, Shanthai Road and the Pallavaram railway station, had remained poorly lit for several months, triggering safety concerns. While the southern half of the road is maintained by the Tambaram Corporation, the remaining stretch up to Shanthai Road falls under the Cantonment Board.

The St. Thomas Mount-cum-Pallavaram Cantonment, one of the oldest in the country, established in 1774, administers areas including St. Thomas Mount, Meenambakkam and parts of Pallavaram.

Safety concerns earlier

More than half-a-kilometre of the stretch under Ward 5 had been without functional streetlights, making it unsafe after sunset, according to residents. Women commuters had reportedly avoided the route, opting for longer alternatives to reach the railway station and Shanthai Road.

The portion below the Pallavaram flyover, which provides access to the railway station from Shanthai Road and a nearby church, was also poorly lit. Residents had pointed to broken liquor bottles, garbage accumulation and instances of harassment and theft as issues that needed attention.

Coordinated action

Following representations from residents, the Cantonment Board and the Tambaram Corporation coordinated to restore and install streetlights along the affected stretches, including the one below the flyover.

A Cantonment Board official said the lighting work had been completed and that steps were under way to further enhance safety. A proposal to install CCTV cameras at vantage points up to Shanthai Road has been finalised and is expected to be implemented by March. The Board will also step up coordination with the police to ensure improved surveillance and periodic patrols, the official added.

With Pallavaram serving as a major transit hub offering access to buses, suburban trains and the Metro, residents have welcomed the move and expressed hope that sustained maintenance and enhanced security measures would ensure safer access to these facilities.