Kilambakkam traffic came to a standstill as thousands of holiday returnees crossed the Chennai-Tiruchy National Highway outside the Kilambakkam bus terminus on Wednesday, forcing police to repeatedly stop vehicles amid heavy rain and bumper-to-bumper movement. The congestion stretched from Singaperumalkoil to Perungalathur, disrupting one of Chennai’s main southern approaches.
About 4.5 lakh passengers had travelled out of the city on government buses during the four-day holiday period, according to the report, and many got down in front of the Kilambakkam bus terminus. Passengers then had to cross the highway to reach the terminal and board Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses for onward journeys within the city.
Hundreds of passengers, many carrying luggage and travelling with children, were seen crossing the road from early morning. With the planned skywalk still incomplete, police allowed pedestrians to cross the highway while frequently halting cars, vans and buses heading towards Chennai. The interaction between pedestrians and fast-moving traffic became a major source of disruption near the terminal.
The congestion was intensified by incessant rain, which left the road wet and slippery and slowed vehicle movement. The Chennai-Tiruchy highway saw bumper-to-bumper traffic from Tuesday night through Wednesday morning as large numbers of people returned after the holidays. Heavy traffic was reported at Urapakkam, Kilambakkam, Guduvanchery, Vandalur, Chromepet, Pallavaram, Perungalathur, Tambaram and Singaperumalkoil.
The traffic pattern was uneven across the corridor. Vehicle movement at Padalam and Pukkathurai was reported to be smoother than in previous years, while vehicles crossed the tollgate without much delay after the introduction of a new online payment system. The slowdown became severe from Singaperumalkoil, where the volume of returning passengers and vehicles converged with local traffic.
Passengers said they continued to depend heavily on MTC buses because construction of the Kilambakkam railway station has been dragging on for three years. The absence of a functioning rail connection leaves the bus terminal dependent on road-based transfers, particularly for passengers arriving from intercity services and trying to reach different parts of Chennai.
Thousands of train passengers also got down at Tambaram and waited at the bus stand for onward transport. Some took autos, while others joined the crowds using MTC services. MTC operated additional buses from early morning, with services available from both Kilambakkam and Tambaram at regular intervals. However, the buses were heavily crowded as large numbers of passengers sought to continue their journeys with baggage and children.
The episode highlighted the operational pressure created when a large intercity bus terminal, incomplete pedestrian infrastructure and limited transfer options depend on the same busy highway. The immediate response involved additional buses and police-managed pedestrian crossings, while the skywalk and railway station remain unfinished. No completion date for either project was provided in the report.
