Air show: thousands put to hardship, Marina beach and nearby areas grind to a standstill

Chaos and frustration marred the 92nd Indian Airforce Day celebrations at Marina beach, leading to long wait times and overcrowded transportation.

Frustration, exhaustion, and long wait time were what awaited people who arrived to watch the air show, organised as part of the 92nd Indian Air Force Day celebrations, on Marina beach on Sunday. Roads, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses, and Chennai Metro Rail and Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) trains were all packed to the brim with people heading to and returning from the event.

Several roads in the city such as Anna Salai, Poonamallee High Road, and Walajah Road witnessed heavy traffic congestion. Many were stuck in traffic for a long time. Right from 8 a.m., the MRTS trains running between Velachery and Chintadripet stations were jam packed. Similarly, the Chintadripet railway station also witnessed heavy crowding as many residents from northern and western parts of the city arrived there first before making their way to the beach.

However, people were displeased that the MRTS trains were only operated at 30 minutes interval. MRTS services, operated from Velachery to Chennai Beach, have been truncated at Chintadripet owing to the fourth-line project being executed from Egmore to Beach.

A lot of people complained that Southern Railway had not accounted for the crowding the event would cause and had not bothered to operate extra MRTS services, which is the most accessible route to Marina beach. Similarly, thousands put to hardship while returning home as well since the trains were jam packed.

Suresh, who took an MRTS train from Velachery, said he had never seen the station flooded with people like this. “How can they run trains with a frequency of one hour when they know such an event is happening? The station was packed. We struggled to get in and out.”

Velu, who had travelled from Nanganallur to Adyar on Sunday morning, said it took as long as one-and-a-half-hours. “It was one of the worst traffic scenes that I have seen. The vehicle moved very slowly,” he said.

When the air show ended at 1 p.m., people were unable to board buses, trains, and Metro Rails, hail autorickshaws, or even cross the roads.