Chennai Faces Massive Traffic Jams as Pongal Holiday Crowds Return
Chennai's major entry points experienced severe traffic congestion on Sunday. Thousands of people began returning to the city after celebrating the Pongal holidays. This led to long delays and frustration among commuters.
Key Highways and Roads Affected by Gridlock
GST Road saw vehicles stuck in traffic for several kilometers. The congestion created a nightmare for drivers and passengers alike. Traffic moved at a snail's pace along the Chennai-Ulundurpet National Highway. The Chennai-Trichy National Highway also faced similar issues.
Severe congestion was reported near Singamperumal Koil. Areas along the East Coast Road (ECR) witnessed significant snarls as well. Commuters took to social media to express their frustration over the delays. Many shared updates and photos of the chaotic scenes.
Traffic Police Response and Diversion Measures
Deputy Commissioner of Traffic for Tambaram, Samai Singh, addressed the situation. He stated that diversions for heavy vehicles are currently in place. Lorries and other large vehicles are being redirected at Tindivanam, Chengalpet, and SP Kovil junction. These measures will remain until early Monday morning.
The vehicles are being diverted through the new Vandalur bridge to the Outer Ring Road. This strategy aims to ease the pressure on main highways. Singh confirmed that as many as 800 traffic police personnel were posted along prominent highways. The police are expecting lakhs of vehicles to return to Chennai in the coming hours.
Public Transport and Bus Services
The State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) operated special buses from Friday. These services helped people return to the city more efficiently. A total of 25,038 buses have run since then. This includes both regular route services and special holiday services.
Traffic congestion was also reported near the Kilambakkam bus terminus. However, some relief was noted on specific stretches. Vinoth, a commuter, mentioned that the area near the Perungalathur flyover was rid of congestion. This provided a brief respite in an otherwise chaotic day.
Increase in Advance Bookings and Passenger Numbers
Officials revealed interesting data about travel patterns this year. There was a 30% increase in SETC advance bookings by people leaving Chennai during the Pongal holidays. Approximately 2.8 lakh passengers booked reservation tickets ahead of Pongal. This compares to 2.17 lakh bookings during the same period last year.
Of the total reservations, about 1.4 lakh bookings were made from Chennai itself. This indicates a significant outflow of residents from the city for the festivities. The return journey has now created a massive influx, overwhelming the city's infrastructure.
The traffic situation highlights the challenges of managing holiday travel in a major metropolitan area. Authorities continue to monitor and adjust their strategies to mitigate congestion.
