Motorists on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, also known as OMR, are raising concerns about widespread jaywalking, particularly on stretches such as Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur, and Navalur. The issue is reportedly more acute at night, making nighttime driving more hazardous.
G. Gurumurthy of Thoraipakkam warned that in Kottivakkam, careless pedestrians could lead to hit‑and‑run incidents becoming common after dark. He noted that although lighting was recently upgraded, it remains ineffective for ensuring safety.
Harsha Koda, co‑founder of the Federation of OMR Residents Welfare Associations, highlighted that the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company has yet to install proper street lighting in sections handed over from the Chennai Metro Rail. He also pointed out that many medians are too low and that the lack of zebra crossings and foot overbridges forces pedestrians to climb over or jump the median, increasing risk.
Sridevi Kothandapani of Thazhambur described an incident where movable blue‑grey steel shutters were shifted by pedestrians, creating gaps that caused her to fall while attempting to cross the road at night. She was fortunate that no vehicle was present at the time of the fall.
