Key service roads along Chennai's vital Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) have been hijacked by unauthorized parking, severely slowing movement on the city's bustling IT corridor. The problem is most acute at major junctions between Madhya Kailash and Sholinganallur, where remaining service lane pockets have become informal car parks.
Junctions Transformed Into Makeshift Parking Lots
A recent check revealed a persistent issue: at each major junction, including Karapakkam, Sholinganallur, Okkiyampet, and Thoraipakkam, between 10 to 15 cars were found parked illegally. This leaves minimal space for motorists legitimately using these lanes. The parked vehicles largely belong to visitors to nearby commercial establishments, including shops and eateries.
The situation is exacerbated by specific entities. At Karapakkam Junction, for instance, a private car showroom was found using the service road to line up its service and test-drive vehicles, further narrowing the already constricted stretch. This blatant misuse highlights the commercial nature of the problem.
Residents Point Fingers, Enforcement Falls Short
Local residents and associations are frustrated. Satish Galley, an OMR resident, identified nearby commercial establishments as primary culprits. He also noted that students from nearby colleges and visitors to a local multiplex park on these roads to avoid paying parking fees at the mall.
Harsha Koda, co-founder of the Federation of OMR Resident Associations (FOMRRA), stated that many vehicle owners treat public service roads as personal parking zones, with some cars left unattended for days. While residents regularly tag traffic police on social media platforms like Twitter, Koda claims action is taken only about half the time.
Authorities Admit Challenge of Persistent Violations
The root of the issue is partly infrastructural. The 13km stretch no longer has continuous service lanes, as most were merged with the main carriageway during metro rail and other civic projects. The remaining pockets are now hotbeds for illegal parking.
Officials acknowledge the problem but point to enforcement hurdles. D Baskara Pandiyan, Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company, confirmed that joint drives with traffic police are organized to remove parked vehicles, but the cars inevitably return.
Assistant Commissioner of Traffic for Pallikaranai, Sundara Rajan, explained the on-ground reality. Patrol teams warn violators, and vehicles are moved when police are present. However, once the teams leave, the parking resumes. He assured that action would be taken, but noted that despite the stretch falling under multiple traffic police jurisdictions, no fines have been imposed and no vehicles have been towed so far, indicating a significant gap in effective deterrence.
The persistent illegal parking continues to throttle one of Chennai's most important economic arteries, causing daily inconvenience to thousands of commuters and highlighting a clear need for a sustainable, enforced solution.
