The stretch of Arcot Road running through Virugambakkam, Vadapalani, and Valasaravakkam in Chennai has become a symbol of urban distress, as residents endure relentless commute delays and safety concerns amid ongoing Chennai Metro Rail Phase II construction. The corridor, a critical east-west artery under transformation to host an elevated metro line between Poonamallee and Kodambakkam, is now more synonymous with craters, congestion, and chaos than civic progress.
Despite being a vital transit route in the western suburbs, the deteriorating surface quality, absence of footpaths, and inconsistent barricading practices have made daily travel an exasperating ordeal for thousands of motorists and pedestrians alike. Since 2021, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has been executing the elevated portion of Corridor 4 as part of its ambitious 26.1-km expansion. While the project promises seamless connectivity from Poonamallee to the Light House once completed, the interim has brought with it a barrage of civic inconveniences. In several key junctions such as Saligramam and Valasaravakkam, large open craters dot the road, rendering even basic vehicular navigation precarious, especially for two-wheelers. With the road width reduced significantly due to construction barricades, peak-hour traffic snarls have doubled travel times and drained commuter morale.
For residents dependent on this arterial road for everyday mobility, the impact has been physically and mentally taxing. Those commuting for work, hospital visits, or daily errands report spending twice the amount of time they did just a few years ago. Equally worrying is the erosion of pedestrian rights. With pavements virtually non-existent in multiple pockets and heavy equipment often spilling onto carriageways, walking even short distances has become dangerous, particularly for senior citizens and schoolchildren. Though CMRL has marginally removed some barricades to ease flow, the lack of proper demarcation has exposed the public to construction debris and unmarked machinery, further compounding safety risks.
Adding to residents’ frustrations is the absence of durable remediation. According to multiple local accounts, patchwork repairs carried out by contractors have failed to hold ground even for a few weeks. The recurring degradation of surface layers not only affects mobility but also raises questions around the quality control mechanisms in place. Road maintenance appears reactive at best and unsustainable at worst, raising larger concerns about public accountability in infrastructure projects of this scale. Stakeholders argue that as urban India aspires to build smart and sustainable cities, temporary civic degradation must not be the cost of progress. A climate-resilient and equitable mobility network cannot thrive on fractured roads and short-term fixes.
CMRL has acknowledged the complaints and assured that it has instructed its contractors to undertake road relaying work, with inspections expected shortly. While such promises offer temporary reassurance, the ground reality demands far greater urgency. Urban development cannot be at odds with the lived experience of citizens. With Chennai striving to emerge as a sustainable metropolis, the Arcot Road experience must serve as a cautionary tale — one that underlines the need for people-centric project implementation and a culture of accountability that respects both timelines and the right to safe urban movement.
Arcot Road in Chennai Becomes Daily Struggle Amid Delays in Metro Construction
