Metro Rail construction worsens traffic congestion on Paul Wells Road

Chennai Metro Rail construction at Paul Wells Road causes traffic chaos, frustration, and health concerns for commuters.

With the start of the New Year, people are encouraged to embrace new beginnings and not put off until tomorrow what they can start today.

However, Chennaiites who endure the worsening traffic situation have no option but to wait for tomorrow, as promised by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited’s slogan — “Inconvenience today for a better tomorrow”. For those travelling along Paul Wells Road at St. Thomas Mount, this promise seems far from reassuring as the construction, part of Metro Rail Phase II (Corridor 5: Madhavaram-Sholinganallur), has turned a once ordinary road into a hotspot for traffic woes.

The junction at Paul Wells Road, where Butt Road and Police Officers Road intersect, was once a familiar stretch, known for its usual traffic snarls at peak hours. However, the scene now is chaotic, with construction taking up almost half the width of the road, severely limiting the flow of vehicles.

The road, which leads to the Kathipara Flyover, already had its share of congestion. It is now left with space only for a few two-wheelers, resulting in massive jams at almost all hours of the day.

C. Ashok, an IT professional working at a private company at Guindy, is one of the residents forced to contend with the daily traffic nightmare on Paul Wells Road. “The traffic around 9 a.m. is a real headache,” he says. Ashok adds that his colleagues, particularly those who work the early morning shifts, face an even tougher time, as it’s much worse when the Metro Rail construction is in full swing, with heavy machinery in operation and the usual MTC buses and goods lorries blocking the already narrow road.

Another motorist, who regularly passes through the junction, expresses frustration over the lack of proper traffic regulation. “There’s hardly any police presence here, compared with other signals. It’s just one L&T Construction worker with a red flag, but nobody seems to pay attention to him,” they say, pointing to the absence of adequate enforcement that exacerbates the difficult situation.

With heavy machinery at work and more roadblocks popping up, the Metro Rail construction is making an already congested stretch even more challenging. It has also unleashed a constant cloud of dust, making the commute even more uncomfortable. Motorists and pedestrians alike find themselves battling both the traffic jams and the thick dust, affecting their health too.