Chennai Anna Nagar’s New Parking Scheme to Ease Traffic Congestion and Boost Convenience
The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to tackle the long-standing parking issues in the area, which sees more than one lakh vehicles daily. With the Greater Chennai Corporation’s approval, the project is set to create 2,000 car parking slots, easing congestion that has plagued local roads for years.
The scale of the problem is significant. Every day, approximately 5,000 cars are parked along Anna Nagar’s streets, with peak hours between 8 am and 10 am and 4 pm to 6 pm witnessing over 3,000 vehicles parked at once. This creates severe traffic bottlenecks, making it difficult for residents and commuters to navigate the area, contributing to hours of wasted time and rising frustration. CUMTA’s solution is a strategically designed parking plan that divides the area into primary and secondary roads. This will see the creation of 2,000 parking spaces, with 70% of these slots allocated to key commercial roads such as Second Avenue, Third Avenue, and Sixth Avenue, all of which are known for their bustling activity. The plan includes angular parking along the primary roads, while parallel parking will be implemented on interior roads, such as the 11th, 12th, and 13th main roads in Shanthi Colony.
A critical element of the plan is the pricing system. Parking will be charged at varying rates, with fees set at ₹60 per hour for trucks, ₹40 for cars, and ₹20 for bikes. This fee structure is designed to manage parking demand while generating funds for maintenance and oversight. To ensure smooth implementation and prevent violations, CUMTA will deploy 250 marshals, each responsible for monitoring a 500-metre stretch of road. These marshals will be equipped with body cameras to address any conflicts and to ensure compliance. Payment for parking will be made flexible, allowing motorists to pay via cash, PoS devices, or through a new CUMTA app, while QR-poles will also be installed for ease of access.
The proposed parking system will operate from 8 am to 10 pm daily. Vehicles found parked for over three hours without payment will be clamped, and after six hours, the vehicle will be towed away to a designated yard. In a bid to maintain safety and order, specific zones will remain free from parking, such as within a 10-metre radius of bus stands and a 100-metre radius from schools. One of the major challenges identified by CUMTA is the impact of valet parking by businesses, which often blocks interior roads. To address this, authorities plan to mandate that all businesses comply with the new system, ensuring a more organised approach to parking and traffic flow. This parking overhaul is not just about easing congestion. The project is expected to have a wider impact, particularly in terms of promoting the use of public transport. Officials anticipate that the availability of additional parking spaces will encourage more people to opt for metro travel, particularly at stations like Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar Tower, and East. By improving the local transport ecosystem, CUMTA hopes to further support Chennai’s broader vision of creating a more sustainable, efficient, and equitable urban environment.
The financial implications of the project are also notable. If the parking slots are fully occupied for 14 hours a day, the contractor is projected to generate a revenue of ₹11.2 lakh per day, amounting to ₹3.36 crore per month. Of this, CUMTA expects to earn a 40% share, ensuring a steady stream of funds for future urban development projects.
This initiative marks a crucial step forward in tackling the complex issue of urban parking in Chennai. By providing a sustainable solution to Anna Nagar’s parking woes, it sets a precedent that could eventually be replicated across other densely populated areas of the city, improving both traffic flow and the overall quality of life for residents and visitors alike
