High waves driven by rough sea conditions linked to Cyclone Arnab hit Chennai’s Ennore Expressway, disrupting traffic, damaging roadside stalls and forcing authorities to temporarily close the vulnerable Thiruvottiyur stretch. The cyclone was expected to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, around 2am to 4am on Wednesday, according to the report.
The volatile sea affected several locations along the North Chennai and surrounding coasts, including Ennore, Tiruvottiyur, Mamallapuram and other coastal areas. Waves surged onto the road at Thiruvottiyur, creating a safety risk for motorists and prompting traffic restrictions to prevent accidents caused by sudden wave surges and unsafe coastal conditions.
The Ennore Expressway connects Ennore with Kasimedu harbour and is used by trucks travelling to the port as well as residents of Kasimedu, Tollgate, Tiruvottiyur and Ennore. The route also runs alongside coastal settlements where several fishing communities live. The road closure therefore affected both port-linked freight movement and local travel along the North Chennai coast.
GCC officials from the Tiruvottiyur zone said police temporarily blocked the stretch and diverted vehicles towards Tiruvottiyur High Road. The waves pushed down several parked and passing vehicles and swept away roadside stalls, according to the report. Authorities did not provide a consolidated figure for the number of vehicles or stalls affected.
The State Emergency Operations Centre said precautionary measures had been intensified along vulnerable stretches of the Tamil Nadu coastline following India Meteorological Department warnings of rough sea conditions and high waves. District administrations in Tiruvallur, Chengalpet, Villupuram and Cuddalore, along with the Greater Chennai Corporation, were alerted to maintain heightened vigilance and take necessary safety measures.
Police and revenue officials patrolled vulnerable coastal stretches and nearby habitations to assess conditions, identify locations requiring immediate intervention and support local responses. District administrations and the Greater Chennai Corporation were also asked to coordinate traffic restrictions and shift residents of vulnerable coastal areas to safer locations wherever necessary.
The North Chennai coastline between Ennore and Kasimedu has stretches where the available coastal width is reportedly only 20 to 30 metres or less, unlike longer coastal areas such as Marina. The government has installed groynes along the coast to withstand waves that can reach the shore-end. The immediate road restrictions and coastal surveillance were to continue in response to the IMD warnings and the cyclone’s expected landfall.
