Two-Year Delay in Chennai Subway Project Sparks Public Outrage
The prolonged delay in constructing a 150-metre subway beneath the Korukkupet railway tracks has severely impacted daily commuters in North Chennai, leading to growing frustration among residents. The project, which began in October 2022 with an allocated budget of ₹20 crore, remains far from completion, resulting in the closure of a 500-metre key road link between Korukkupet and Mint for the past two years. The shutdown has forced over 10,000 residents to take an arduous 2-kilometre detour via Thiruvottiyur High Road, significantly increasing travel time and daily inconvenience. The situation escalated on Tuesday, when over a hundred frustrated locals took to the streets, staging a protest and demanding an immediate resolution. Posters questioning the delay were displayed, highlighting the mounting civic concerns and urging authorities to act swiftly.
For the affected residents, this incomplete subway is more than just an infrastructure issue—it has disrupted livelihoods, increased transport costs, and affected accessibility. J Santhanam, a resident of the area, expressed his disappointment, saying, “Our daily commute has turned into a nightmare. The bus terminus was shifted due to the road closure, forcing us to walk half a kilometre just to board a bus. Elderly people and students face the worst difficulties.” The disruption has disproportionately affected small businesses and daily wage workers who rely on efficient connectivity for their earnings. The situation in North Chennai echoes similar infrastructure delays seen in other Indian metropolitan cities. While cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru have streamlined urban transport planning, Chennai continues to grapple with long-pending civic projects, highlighting gaps in public infrastructure governance.
The subway delay also underscores sustainability and urban planning challenges in Chennai. With a rapidly growing population and increasing vehicular congestion, the need for alternative transport solutions and seamless connectivity is more urgent than ever. Experts argue that integrating sustainable urban mobility solutions such as pedestrian-friendly pathways, improved public transport, and expedited project execution can significantly ease commuter stress. Chennai’s infrastructure struggles are not just about construction delays but also about urban resilience. Proper planning and stringent timelines are crucial to ensuring that projects like the Korukkupet subway contribute to a well-connected and environmentally sustainable transport system.
Following the protests, North Chennai MLA and Minister P K Sekar Babu inspected the site and urged the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to expedite the work. The minister cited technical challenges, including the presence of water, sewage, and oil pipelines beneath the railway tracks, as key reasons for the delay. However, commuters argue that such obstacles should have been pre-emptively addressed during project planning. Compared to metro systems in cities like Delhi or Hyderabad, which integrate modern infrastructure with faster execution timelines, Chennai’s prolonged civic delays highlight a pressing need for governance reforms and accountability in urban development. The residents’ protest is a reminder that civic issues must be addressed with urgency, ensuring that such delays do not continue to plague Chennai’s urban landscape.
