Traffic Chaos on Velachery-Tambaram Road as Faulty Signals Cripple Commute
Dysfunctional traffic lights at five critical junctions along the heavily congested Velachery-Tambaram road in Chennai have transformed routine commutes into a daily ordeal for thousands of motorists and pedestrians. The affected stretch spans from Madras Christian College in East Tambaram to Camp Road in Selaiyur, covering approximately 4 kilometers that carries over 5,000 vehicles per hour during peak times.
Junctions Plunged into Chaos
The traffic signals at key intersections including Tambaram Sanatorium Road, Air Force Station Road, Kamarajar Road, Raja Iyer Street, and Camp Road have become completely unregulated. This has led to dangerous situations where drivers frequently race through intersections without proper signaling, dramatically increasing the risk of collisions. The chaos intensifies during morning and evening rush hours when the thoroughfare is packed with vehicles.
Safety Concerns and Near Misses
While traffic officials claim no major accidents have been officially recorded, residents report frequent mishaps at these problematic junctions. The absence of pedestrian pathways, particularly near schools, compounds the danger. V Saritha, secretary of the Ganesh Nagar Residents Welfare Association, shared a harrowing experience: "Two weeks ago, I had gone to pick up my kids from school when I had a near miss. There are no proper paths for pedestrians to cross safely near educational institutions."
Advocate S Aravind, a resident of Tambaram Sanatorium, highlighted the time wasted: "We wait at least 20 minutes near Selaiyur police station just to take a turn towards Tambaram railway station. Travel and waiting times have increased drastically for everyone using this route."
Multiple Contributing Factors
The traffic problems extend beyond just malfunctioning signals:
- Encroachments along the roadway choke traffic flow
- Complete absence of designated pedestrian pathways
- Frequent traffic violations including wrong-side driving and ignoring one-way rules
- Sudden U-turns by impatient drivers
- Inadequate police presence despite occasional deployment
Official Response and Promised Action
Traffic police officials have acknowledged the problem and promised corrective measures. They stated that the faulty signals will be inspected and repaired within a week. Additionally, authorities emphasized that wrong-side driving will attract a fine of ₹1,000 as part of efforts to enforce traffic discipline.
The situation on Velachery-Tambaram road serves as a stark reminder of how infrastructure failures can disrupt urban mobility and compromise public safety. With thousands of commuters affected daily, residents await the promised repairs while navigating the hazardous conditions that have become their daily reality.
