Road Expansion Plans in Chennai to Tackle Growing Traffic Challenges

Chennai Corporation is all set to implement a major traffic decongestion plan by expanding some of its most congested roads. The key focus will be on the widening of Kamaraj Salai along Marina Beach, as well as the development of several other arterial roads in the city. The goal is to alleviate traffic jams, improve walkability, and ensure smoother connectivity for commuters. Below are the major highlights of the proposed changes:

Key Highlights of the Road Widening Project

1. Expansion of Kamaraj Salai
   • The existing Kamaraj Salai road, currently a 23-meter-wide, four-lane road, will be expanded to 29 meters over a distance of 2.8 km.
   • This expansion aims to ease traffic congestion and facilitate better traffic flow during peak hours.
   • The project also includes constructing dedicated footpaths and pedestrian underpasses to manage weekend traffic.
2. Relocation of Statues
   • Nine statues of prominent leaders located along Kamaraj Salai will be relocated to make way for the expanded road.
   • This will allow for the construction of additional lanes and pedestrian pathways without sacrificing public art.
3. Widening Other Roads
   • In addition to Kamaraj Salai, several other key roads in Chennai will be widened to improve connectivity and ease traffic:
     • Kamarajar Salai from Walajah Road Junction to Light House (3 km)
     • New Avadi Road from MTH Road to Periyar Salai (2 km)
     • Sardar Patel Road from Gandhi Mandapam to Anna Salai junction (2 km)
     • Gandhi Mandapam Road from Anna Centenary Library to Kotturpuram Bridge (200 m)
     • Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai from Chennai City Centre to Kamarajar Salai (800 m)
4. Construction of Slip Roads
   • Slip roads will be constructed to facilitate smoother entry and exit from major roads.
   • A new slip road will be built from IIT Chennai to Gandhi Mandapam bus stand to ease traffic congestion on Sardar Patel Road, with plans to widen the road from 26 meters to 40 meters.
5. Land Acquisition
   • Land from institutions like IIT Chennai, Anna University, and Gandhi Mandapam will be acquired to facilitate the road widening projects.
   • This will help widen roads and create space for additional lanes, improving traffic management across the city.
6. Sardar Patel Road Widening
   • Sardar Patel Road, an important arterial road, will be widened to accommodate more traffic, from its current 26 meters to 40 meters. New slip roads will also be developed.
7. Flyover Construction
   • A flyover will replace the Besant Nagar Broken Bridge, providing an alternative route to decongest traffic from Foreshore Estate to Thiru Vi Ka Bridge across the Adyar River

Challenges and Criticisms

While these widening projects are designed to improve traffic conditions, they have faced criticism. Experts like K.P. Subramaniam, former professor of Urban Engineering at Anna University, caution that simply widening roads might lead to faster driving speeds and may not solve the underlying issue of traffic congestion caused by uncontrolled car growth.

K. Kumar, former Chief Planner at CMDA, raised concerns over relying on road widening as the solution to traffic congestion. He noted, “If every traffic issue is addressed with road widening, there’s no end to it. The real issue is the uncontrolled growth of car usage.” Kumar also advised against removing the three acres of land from the park along Marina Beach for the road project. He suggested that instead of widening, mixed-traffic roads could be transformed into high-capacity systems like Bus Rapid Transit (BRTS), Light Rail Transit (LRTS), or the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system, which operates like a tram on a virtual track and has been successfully used in Zhuzhou, China, since 2018.

Future Developments

Looking ahead, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) plans to extend this initiative with projects aimed at improving connectivity and walkability across various stretches. The construction of flyovers and alternative routes through Srinivasapuram is being considered as a long-term solution to further reduce traffic congestion.