Nanganallur, one of the city’s prominent spiritual hubs, draws thousands of devotees every week to its cluster of renowned temples — yet poor last-mile connectivity and limited public transport continue to pose major challenges for pilgrims.The neighbourhood is home to the famous Anjaneyar Temple Nanganallur, known for its towering Hanuman idol, as well as the Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple Nanganallur, Raghavendra Mutt Nanganallur, and the Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Chennai. During auspicious days, festival seasons and weekends, the area witnesses a steady stream of visitors from across Chennai and neighbouring districts.
However, devotees say reaching these temples is far from convenient.
“People assume that since Nanganallur is inside the city, transport won’t be a problem. But once you get down, the struggle begins,” said R. Suresh, a devotee from Tambaram. “There are very few buses entering the interior roads. Share autos are almost non-existent.”
Currently, the nearest suburban rail access point is Pazhavanthangal railway station on the Chennai Beach–Chengalpattu line. From there, devotees must rely on limited auto services or walk considerable distances to reach the temples.
“The EMU train to Pazhavanthangal is helpful, but from the station to the Anjaneyar Temple it is quite a walk, especially for elderly pilgrims,” said Meenakshi Narayanan, a senior citizen who visits the Guruvayurappan temple regularly. “There should be dedicated mini-bus or shuttle services connecting the station to major temples.”
Residents echo similar concerns, particularly during festival days when traffic congestion adds to the inconvenience. “
On Hanuman Jayanti and other special occasions, thousands visit the Anjaneya temple.
Civic activists have urged authorities to improve connectivity by increasing bus frequency, introducing feeder services from nearby railway and metro stations, and regulating parking during peak days. “Nanganallur has evolved into a major pilgrimage destination within Chennai,” said a temple volunteer. “Basic transport infrastructure must match the growing number of visitors.”
Until then, pilgrims say they continue to plan their visits carefully, often relying on private vehicles or app-based cabs to navigate the transport gap in one of the city’s busiest temple hubs