Anna Nagar residents demand permanent fix for traffic woes

Growing Frustration Over Gridlock

Residents of Chennai’s Anna Nagar are demanding a lasting solution to the area’s persistent traffic congestion. The issue has been simmering for years, but recent months have seen a sharp rise in complaints. Many say temporary fixes have failed to address the root causes.

Commuters report spending an extra 20 to 30 minutes during peak hours. The Anna Nagar Tower junction and Second Avenue Road remain the worst choke points. Local resident associations have now escalated their demands to the Greater Chennai Corporation.

Failed Quick Fixes

Officials have tried several short-term measures over the past year. These included re-timing traffic signals and deploying additional traffic police at key intersections. But residents say these steps only shifted the problem to adjacent streets.

“The congestion has only gotten worse,” said a member of the Anna Nagar Residents Welfare Association. “We need a comprehensive plan, not patchwork solutions.” The association has submitted a memorandum to the corporation listing specific trouble spots and suggested interventions.

What Residents Want

The core demand is for a holistic traffic management plan. This includes better synchronisation of traffic signals, dedicated pedestrian crossings, and removal of encroachments on footpaths. Residents also want the corporation to enforce no-parking zones near schools and hospitals.

Another key ask is for the completion of pending road-widening projects. The Anna Nagar Tower junction, a major bottleneck, requires a grade separator or a flyover, according to several urban planners familiar with the area. However, no such project has been announced.

Official Response So Far

The Greater Chennai Corporation has acknowledged the memorandum. Officials say a traffic study is underway to assess the volume and flow of vehicles during peak hours. Results are expected in the next few weeks.

“We are looking at both short-term and long-term measures,” a corporation official said. “But any major infrastructure work will require approval from multiple departments.” This has done little to reassure residents, who point to years of inaction.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Traffic Police have increased patrols around Anna Nagar during school drop-off and pick-up times. But residents argue that enforcement alone cannot solve a problem rooted in poor planning and unchecked growth of private vehicles.

The next few months will be crucial. The corporation’s traffic study is expected to provide data that could shape future policy. Whether it leads to concrete action or gathers dust in a file remains to be seen.