Ambattur footpaths along the Avadi–CTH Road corridor have become difficult to use because of broken surfaces, parked vehicles and roadside commercial activity, forcing pedestrians to walk on busy carriageways and increasing safety risks, residents said. The Greater Chennai Corporation and Avadi Corporation have said they will inspect the affected areas and take action against encroachments.
The Ambattur–Red Hills Road stretch connects Puzhal, Surapet, Kallikuppam, Kathirvedu and Ambattur OT, and carries thousands of vehicles an hour, according to residents cited by the Times of India. Residential neighbourhoods, schools and commercial establishments have expanded along the corridor, increasing pressure on its road space.
Residents said at least 50 fast-food stalls and bunk shops occupy portions of the roadside in the area. S Suresh, general secretary of the Thiruvengada Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, said pedestrians had little space to walk and that traffic becomes particularly slow in the evening. He said it could take at least 45 minutes to travel 3km from nearby homes to the Ambattur Telephone Exchange after 6pm.
The Puzhal–Kallikuppam stretch has at least eight schools, according to residents. Suresh said encroachments by commercial establishments made it difficult for students to use the road safely. Residents said they had repeatedly requested the state highways department and the corporation to clear the obstructions, but claimed that effective action had not followed.
The problem also extends to vehicle parking on pedestrian space. S Aravind, a resident of Ambattur, said a private car and two-wheeler showroom near a private hospital was using pavements to display vehicles. The location is close to the boundary between Greater Chennai Corporation and Avadi Corporation limits, creating a need for coordination between the two civic bodies, residents said.
Urban planner S Naveen Kumar said continuous and unobstructed footpaths were critical in rapidly urbanising areas such as Ambattur. He said footpaths should have a minimum clear walking width of 1.8 metres, rising to at least 2.5 metres on stretches with high pedestrian movement. He also identified uniform surface levels, adequate drainage and accessible kerb ramps at junctions as necessary features.
Kumar said civic bodies should adopt a complete-streets approach that provides adequate space for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users while regulating roadside parking and vending. The issue therefore involves not only removing individual obstructions but also maintaining a continuous pedestrian network across administrative boundaries.
Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G S Sameeran said the Ambattur zone would be inspected and that necessary action would be taken to remove encroachments. Avadi commissioner L Ambica said the issue had not been brought to her notice so far, but added that action would be taken to clear the encroachments. The proposed inspections and enforcement action are the next steps identified by the two civic authorities.
