Chennai: Traffic congestion on GST Road causes 40-minute delays
Motorists faced bumper-to-bumper movement between Tambaram and Kilambakkam on Friday due to increased vehicle volume ahead of Deepavali.
Motorists spent between 30 and 40 minutes covering a five-km stretch between Tambaram and Kilambakkam on GST Road on Friday, according to The New Indian Express.
The congestion slowed traffic from Pallavaram to Guduvanchery as vehicle volumes increased since Thursday ahead of Deepavali.
The bottleneck is primarily triggered by vehicles from the Outer Ring Road merging with the main GST Road carriageway in front of the Kilambakkam bus terminus (KCBT).
Vehicles entering the terminus, including MTC buses and private omni buses, must negotiate with this merging traffic, while those from Maraimalai Nagar must take a U-turn beneath the Vandalur flyover.
A transport department official said the number of buses handled at KCBT has been reduced and some services were diverted to Maraimalai Nagar following advice from traffic police.
The official added that the merging of traffic near the Vandalur flyover is causing severe congestion and the issue is being examined.
NHAI officials stated that the multi-lane free-flow tolling system has reduced congestion at Paranur, and construction of vehicular underpasses at Padalam, Pukkathurai and Madurantakam is expected to be completed soon.