Chennai Anticipates Severe Traffic Disruptions as 12 Lakh Return After Pongal
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Synopsis
Chennai is preparing for significant traffic congestion as around 12 lakh commuters return after the Pongal festival. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Department advises staggered travel to ease the rush, while various transport services are being ramped up.
Key Takeaways
- 12 lakh commuters expected to return.
- Staggered travel recommended by transport officials.
- Major routes to experience severe congestion.
- Special transport services being deployed.
- Heavy vehicle ban imposed to manage traffic.
Chennai, Jan 18 (NationPress) The city of Chennai and its surrounding areas are preparing for severe traffic congestion as approximately 12 lakh individuals are anticipated to return following the Pongal festival.
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Department has advised commuters to commence their return trips in a staggered manner over a span of three to four days. Despite these measures, transport officials have noted a high volume of return bookings for government buses on Sunday, which is expected to lead to considerable traffic challenges on essential routes.
The Tamil Nadu transport department reported that from January 10 to 13, 8.73 lakh passengers utilized government buses from Chennai, while 3.75 lakh opted for private omni buses.
The influx of returnees is projected to peak on Sunday, resulting in significant congestion on major routes, especially on Monday morning.
Key stretches likely to be affected include the Chengalpattu-Tambaram stretch of GST Road, Uthandi-Thiruvanmiyur section of ECR, Thiruporur-Thiruvanmiyur stretch of OMR, Poonamallee-Maduravoyal section of Bengaluru NH, Thirunindravur-Padi section of Chennai-Tirupati Highway, and Nallur-Madhavaram stretch of Kolkata NH.
To manage the post-Pongal surge, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will open toll gates at Paranur and Athur (on the Tambaram-Tindivanam NH) to facilitate unrestricted vehicle movement. Depending on traffic conditions, 7-8 out of 10 lanes may be reversed to accommodate incoming vehicles.
R. Mohan, Managing Director of the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), stated that during the Pongal period, a total of 15,866 buses, including 7,498 special services, were operated from Chennai to various locations in Tamil Nadu. For the return rush, 6,926 buses are scheduled to run from January 15 to 19, including special services.
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will provide additional services to assist passengers in Chennai on January 19 and 20. On Sunday (January 19), 150 extra buses will be deployed, and on Monday (January 20), 500 additional buses will be added to the fleet. A total of 982 buses, including 482 daily services, will be operational on Monday. MTC staff will be present at major hubs such as Tambaram, Koyambedu CMBT (KCBT), Poonamallee, CMBT, MMBT, Redhills, and Egmore to manage traffic and assist commuters.
The railways will also operate a special train from Mandapam to Chennai Egmore on Sunday, departing Mandapam at 10 p.m. and arriving in Chennai Egmore at 11:30 a.m. on Monday.
To alleviate congestion, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police has imposed a ban on heavy vehicles entering Chennai from 2 p.m. on Saturday to 2 p.m. on Monday, with heavy vehicles being diverted at Chengalpattu and Singaperumal Koil junctions.
Traffic restrictions have also been enforced on major roads, including GST Road, Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road, Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), and East Coast Road (ECR).
Omni buses will be rerouted via the Outer Ring Road to access Poonamallee and Maduravoyal.
Moreover, special trains will run every 15 minutes from Chengalpattu to Chennai to accommodate the commuter surge. Authorities have urged travelers to plan their trips judiciously and utilize public transport whenever feasible to reduce delays and inconveniences.
