Heavy passenger congestion at Chennai’s Kilambakkam bus terminus and traffic snarls on GST Road followed the return of large numbers of people to the city after the Ayudha Pooja holidays and the weekend, with passengers reportedly crossing the highway after some buses dropped them outside the terminus.
People who had travelled to their native places in southern Tamil Nadu began returning to Chennai in large numbers from Tuesday night, according to DT Next. The influx increased in the early hours of Wednesday as buses arrived at the terminus one after another.
The rush was particularly visible inside the Kilambakkam bus terminus, where passengers moved towards the city bus boarding area to take MTC services to Chennai and its suburbs. The terminus serves as a major arrival point for intercity buses travelling from southern and central districts.
However, several buses arriving from those districts were reportedly dropping passengers along GST Road, opposite the terminus, instead of inside the facility. Passengers then crossed the busy highway in groups to enter the terminus and board city buses.
The movement of pedestrians across the road caused severe congestion on both sides of GST Road and disrupted vehicular movement near the bus terminus. The incident highlighted the difficulties faced by passengers when the interchange between intercity buses, city buses and nearby rail services is not completed or used through a safe, continuous pedestrian route.
Passengers told DT Next that the situation could be eased if the proposed skywalk connecting the Kilambakkam bus terminus with the railway station was completed and opened to the public. The facility is intended to provide a safer route between the two transport points and reduce the need for passengers to cross GST Road at ground level.
Construction of the pedestrian facility has been progressing slowly for more than two years, according to the report. It remains unopened, leaving passengers dependent on existing access arrangements during periods of heavy movement.
The latest congestion came as the post-holiday return created a sharp increase in passenger volumes at the terminus. The reported roadside drop-offs added to the pressure around the facility, as arriving passengers had to negotiate traffic before reaching the bus terminal and connecting to MTC services.
Passengers have urged the authorities to expedite the remaining work on the skywalk and open it for public use at the earliest. The facility’s completion is expected to improve pedestrian safety and help reduce traffic disruption around the Kilambakkam bus terminus.
