A vexatious mix: bad roads, heavy traffic, inadequate public transport

A vexatious mix: bad roads, heavy traffic, inadequate public transport

Narrow and pothole-ridden roads, traffic jams and tiring journeys in the oppressive heat reflect the plight of commuters in several areas of the densely populated north Chennai, which lack adequate public transport and proper traffic management. Commuting remains a challenge for residents since many of the narrow roads serve as arterial stretches and traffic is heavy. At localities, including Madhavaram, Moolakadai, Vysarapadi and Pulianthope, commuters grapple with a host of issues every day.

S. Pushpa, a resident of Pulianthope for nearly 26 years and who takes a bus to Egmore for work, says she waits for a bus for nearly half-an-hour every day. “Quite a few roads, especially Gandhi Nagar and Pulianthope High Road, are in poor shape. To make matters worse, the buses are late and the bad roads only slow down the journey further. The authorities recently completed the storm water drain project. Unfortunately, the project has resulted in the road height increasing. The road space has shrunk in a part of Pulianthope High Road,” she points out.

In areas like Perambur, Doveton and Pattalam, traffic congestion has only exacerbated in recent times by the start of Chennai Metro Rail construction. S. Manjula, a resident of Pattalam, says any commuter will dread driving through Pattalam at evening hours owing to the congestion at the junction. “The traffic is increasing every day, but the roads here remain narrow. Should not they plan for the future and take up road widening at least now,” she asks.

In their long list of woes is poor connectivity and fewer bus services. B. Balaji, a resident of Mathur MMDA and social activist, says the number of services of 29D (MMDA to Vivekanandar Illam) has been reduced. “The area has nearly 20,000 families, but a number of bus services have been reduced or suspended. The 29CX service from MMDA to Tiruvanmiyur was stopped, while the frequency of 64C, from Manali to Broadway, has been extended from 10 minutes to half-an-hour or one hour, resulting in heavy rush,” he says. As a result, the dependence on share autos to reach Moolakadai has increased. “Owing to the increase in demand, share auto fare has also gone up from ₹10 to ₹20,” he says.

R. Rajamanickam, a resident of Ennore, says 13 buses ply from the Ennore terminus, but without a proper schedule. “Many of these services ply continuously at shorter intervals, leaving commuters without any bus for the next one hour. This is the scenario at morning and evening hours. The service 121 C that goes up to CMBT is operated every one hour or one-and-a-half hours. The service 4 that plies from Ennore to the High Court is crowded, especially at school hours, owing to fewer trips,” he says. Buses should be operated at an interval of 20 minutes. “We need more connectivity to Red Hills as the existing services have dwindled,” he adds.

R. Loganathan, a resident of R.K. Nagar and CPI(M) district executive committee member, north Chennai, says that while Tiruvottiyur High Road has a good number of bus services that provide the much-needed connectivity to the rest of the city, areas at the other end of R.K. Nagar, like Korukkupet, suffer from inadequate services. “Because of the ongoing construction of the rail overbridge at Korukkupet, commuting even on two-wheelers has become difficult,” he says.

He adds that train services should also improve. “Several daily wage labourers travel to Minjur, Ponneri and Gummidipoondi. The number of trains should be increased. Chennai Metro Rail has definitely improved transport in this part of the city. Still, connectivity should be established from the Wimco Nagar Metro station to Madhavaram, through Ennore, Manali and Mathur,” he feels.