Traffic congestion on GST Road near Tambaram railway station continues to cause hardship for thousands of commuters, even after the construction of a pedestrian subway and elevated skywalk intended to streamline movement in the area.
Tambaram remains one of Chennai’s busiest transport hubs, linking suburban rail services, Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses and long-distance routes. However, despite recent infrastructure upgrades, daily commuters say peak-hour traffic has only worsened, leading to long delays and mounting frustration.
Long Vehicle Queues During Peak Hours
Motorists report that vehicles frequently line up for nearly two kilometres towards Sanatorium and Chromepet during morning and evening rush hours. Office-goers and students travelling to catch suburban trains say they often find themselves stuck in traffic, with some missing scheduled services due to the bottlenecks.
The congestion not only slows private vehicles but also affects public transport, further compounding the delay for passengers relying on buses and shared autos to reach the station.
Authorities had earlier constructed a pedestrian subway connecting the railway station to nearby market areas and an elevated skywalk linking the bus stand, railway station and GST Road. These projects were aimed at reducing pedestrian interference on the main carriageway and improving traffic flow.
However, commuters point out that while the facilities are functional, they have not significantly decongested the main road. Vehicular movement continues to be hampered during peak hours, raising questions about traffic management and enforcement.
Residents and regular road users attribute the persistent congestion to several factors. Buses often halt directly on GST Road instead of pulling into designated bays, creating choke points. Autorickshaws and share autos parked along the roadside further reduce usable road width.
Encroachments and roadside vendors narrow the carriage space, while heavy pedestrian movement near the station entrance adds to the chaos. Together, these issues contribute to recurring traffic snarls despite the presence of modern infrastructure.
Traffic officials have acknowledged the problem and said measures are being taken to improve regulation, including better deployment of personnel and stricter enforcement against violations. For now, however, commuters continue to grapple with daily delays at one of the city’s most critical transit junctions.