Deepavali shopping rush exposes the civic problems of T. Nagar

Deepavali shopping season in T. Nagar, Chennai faces traffic congestion and parking issues due to ongoing construction projects.

Every year, the Deepavali shopping season exposes traffic congestion and parking problems at T. Nagar, a commercial hub of Chennai. These issues have been aggravated this year by the ongoing Metro Rail and flyover construction, despite the fact that the number of shoppers is less than the previous years. At peak hours, traffic is chaotic at T. Nagar because of heavy crowds, the implementation of the infrastructure projects, and diversions. The construction of the Usman Road flyover and the Metro Rail line on Venkatanarayana Road causes congestion. The narrow lanes in the area make it difficult for shoppers.

From May, T. Nagar had to brace for big traffic diversions as the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) closed the Usman Road flyover. It also started demolishing 120 metres of the down-ramp of the flyover in order to connect it to the flyover under construction, which connects to Anna Salai. So, a portion of Usman Road is cut off. Vehicles from North Usman Road have to take a circuitous route to the T. Nagar bus stand and those from Saidapet through South Usman Road are diverted towards Burkit Road. A narrow path on North Usman Road from the bus stand is packed with people who move in a single file towards Ranganathan Street or Sathya Bazaar. S. Jayalakshmi, a resident of Taramani, says, “I have been visiting T. Nagar several years for Deepavali shopping. This year, I find it difficult to enter Ranganathan Street because the road is closed and the flyover construction is under way.”

“Walking with your family on the narrow Usman Road in a surging crowd is a tough task. One needs more patience. Moreover, the car park has been taken over for the Metro Rail work. Where would shoppers park their vehicles? Though the authorities have arranged temporary parking lots at schools and on G.N. Chetty Road and there is a multi-level car park at the Thanikachalam Road junction, they are far and inadequate. After leaving your car on Thanikachalam Road, how long can we walk to reach Usman Road? It is a difficult task,” says Srinath of Velachery.

Parking of autorickshaws and share-autorickshaws on the roadsides is another problem. Near the T. Nagar bus stand, they block the movement of buses entering the bus stand and the traffic on the narrow Burkit Road or Dhandapani Road.

The residents of streets near the shopping areas are severely inconvenienced during the Deepavali season as the shoppers leave their cars in front of their homes. Many residents say they are unable to go out in case of emergency.

A resident of Mangesh Street says, “Two days ago, I was planning to visit my sister to give her family Deepavali gifts. I came out with my family to take my car. But somebody parked the car in front of our house and left. I was not able to take the car out for four hours until the owner of the car came and drove away.”

Mohan Ranganathan, a resident of Rangan Street, says, “It is very difficult to enter our street in our vehicles or move out since huge crowds turn up for shopping. Restrictions are in place. This year, the portion of the Usman Road was blocked as the flyover was demolished. The policemen often deny us entry to our own street. Sometimes, we have to produce Aadhaar or other identity cards.”