Arasamaram junction at Ramapuram, a nightmare for commuters

Arasamaram junction in Ramapuram, Chennai faces severe traffic congestion due to its strategic location connecting key roads.

The Arasamaram junction at Ramapuram has become one of the busiest and most congested intersections in Chennai. A quiet spot once, the junction is now notorious for traffic snarls, especially at peak hours.

The junction is located just before the furniture market on Ramapuram Main Road. It connects several key roads — Bharathi Salai to the west, which leads to SRM University and further on to Porur; Nesapakkam to the east; and Mount Poonamallee Road to the south, which connects commuters to Guindy and DLF IT Park. As this is the main route for both students and working professionals, the traffic has become unmanageable at times, even with the presence of traffic policemen. Ragothaman. S, who lives at Janaki Nagar, Valasaravakkam, and works at a private company at DLF IT Park, has to go to office three days a week. Returning in the evening is a nightmare, he says, adding that he comes prepared to spend at least 15 minutes crossing 200 metres of the stretch. “The traffic is quite unpredictable. The problem occurs when commuters from one side don’t wait for those on the other sides to pass by, thus creating chaos,” he adds.

Ramapuram Main Road itself is a commercial area, with several businesses lining the street. Huge college and office buses, along with two-wheelers and private vehicles, lead to a chaotic mix of traffic that clogs the junction. The narrow lanes and lack of adequate parking lots add to the congestion.

A student of the university nearby explains his daily struggle: “I ride my bike through this junction every day. The traffic is heavy, especially at rush hours. It’s frustrating trying to weave through the cars and buses, but I have no choice — this is the quickest route to the campus.” The supervisor of a hotel at the junction expresses his frustration with the traffic. “Vehicles are always blocking the roads, and it’s become difficult for customers to park. People avoid the area owing to the traffic jams,” he says.

For many, especially during the afternoon school rush and the evening office rush, the wait time is interminable. Vehicles spill onto nearby streets, blocking access for those trying to pass through.

A traffic constable posted at the junction says, “The Metro Rail construction on Arcot Road and Mount Poonamallee Road has increased the traffic here. What used to be a manageable flow is now a mess. It’s difficult to keep the vehicles moving.”