Traffic congestion at Chennai’s Akkarai junction has intensified because a bus stop located close to the intersection is disrupting vehicle movement on Sholinganallur Main Road, a key link between the East Coast Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai.
The bottleneck affects traffic in both directions, including vehicles travelling from Mahabalipuram towards Thiruvanmiyur and those moving from Thiruvanmiyur towards Sholinganallur. The disruption is particularly difficult during weekends, when traffic volumes increase along the East Coast Road corridor.
The bus stop is positioned near the junction on Sholinganallur Main Road. When buses halt there, vehicles are forced to slow or stop close to the intersection, affecting movement through the junction. Unauthorised parking and restaurants located on either side of the road are also contributing to congestion, according to social activist Satish Galley.
Mr. Galley has urged the Metropolitan Transport Corporation and traffic police to relocate the bus stop away from the junction. The request is aimed at reducing the conflict between buses stopping for passengers and vehicles crossing the intersection.
A senior Metropolitan Transport Corporation official said a decision on the residents’ request would be taken after consultations with the traffic police. The official did not indicate a timeline for any relocation.
A traffic police officer said road-widening work was under way at the junction and that steps were being taken to ease congestion. “When a bus stops here, the entire stretch gets blocked. We are taking steps to ease congestion,” the officer said.
The junction’s congestion is therefore being addressed through two parallel measures: consideration of a change in the bus stop’s location and ongoing road-widening work. Until a decision is taken on the relocation request, buses will continue to use the existing stop near the intersection.
