Residents Urge for Link Roads to Alleviate Traffic Woes in Anna Nagar and Ayanavaram

Citing increasing traffic congestion in Anna Nagar, Ayanavaram and other densely populated areas in Chennai, residents are demanding the construction of link roads. Traffic jams on the stretch from Koyambedu bus stand to V.R. Mall on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai have only worsened in the last few years as the development of several large apartment complexes and a mall on Inner Ring Road (IRR) further constricted the already busy road.

One of the main proposals made by residents is a 950-metre long link road from Pillaiyar Koil Street (Ward 104, Zone 8) to Padi Kuppam Road (Ward 90, Ambattur Zone). This road is said to bring much-needed relief to the residents. Prabu M., a resident of Sathya Sai Nagar, said not only can the 950-metre stretch relieve congestion, but with the area’s population increasing due to the construction boom, it is now imperative.

Motorists share the same concern, especially with the added pressure of metro rail work in the region. Saravanan Ayyappan, a frequent commuter, noted that the road’s narrowing because of construction and growing traffic at rush hour has turned into a major civic issue. “Our point is we need some routes other than this route,” he added.

Senior officials from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) visited the stretch during the rush hour on Tuesday to assess the situation. It was attended by local councillors who have long been campaigning for link roads and other infrastructure projects. Ward 104 councillor T.V. Shemmozhi confirmed that the proposed link road will be built after the Water Resources Department hands over the necessary land.

In Ayanavaram, residents also demand a 250-metre link road connecting Ayanavaram market through Guravappa Street to Palayam Pillai Nagar. Due to delays in the link road, residents of neighbouring areas have been compelled to take longer routes to access key places such as the GCC maternity hospital and schools.

A broader solution to the IRR problem, he said, would involve building infrastructure that distributes traffic better in the long run like a link road on the floodplains of the Cooum River, which can connect the IRR with Padi Kuppam Road. He emphasized that such projects need to be factored in as part of a wider Master Plan that links traffic and land-use policies as part of a more coordinated strategy to tackle congestion throughout the city.

As talks unfold, both locals and experts highlight the necessity for strategic planning to avoid exacerbating traffic congestion in these crucial sectors of Chennai.