Traffic on Anna Salai and several other parts of the city, including along the Marina, was totally disrupted for hours on Sunday as more than 5,000 buses and other vehicles drove in with crowds for the MGR centenary celebrations at the
YMCA grounds in Nandanam.
Places like Perungulathur on GST Road that are not crowded on a Sunday were hit by traffic jams, made worse by AIADMK men squabbling over right of way on the highway.
Old Mahabalipuram Road, Guindy and the Marina were choked as police had designated parking lots in these areas for vehicles coming from the districts.
Traffic was chaotic on Anna Salai as police directed vehicles other than those carrying AIADMK workers away from the stretch in front of the meeting venue. The redirected vehicles ended up clogging many of the lanes off Anna Salai.
And with hoardings blocking the footpaths, most of those who came for the meeting ended up walking on the roads, further slowing traffic.
Residents who had to use cars had a harrowing time, with their journeys often taking thrice as long. After a brief respite while the meeting was on late in the evening, traffic snarls began again after it ended and continued till nearly midnight in many places as buses taking the crowds home clogged the roads.
“Though the
Madras high court ordered removal of hoarding hindering traffic at Alandur Metro station and Nandanam, the officials failed to initiate action. The motorists are the worst affected,”
said Vinoth, a biker from Tambaram.
Many of the buses that brought AIADMK workers came from the districts belonged to schools and colleges. These are not to be used for such purposes. According to Section 2(11) of the Motor Vehicles Act, ‘educational institution buses’ should solely be used for transporting students or staff in connection with any of the institution’s activities. To operate buses of educational institution for private services, a temporary permit needs to be obtained from the respective
Regional Transport Office (RTO) functioning under the Tamil Nadu
Transport Department.
Asked about the issue of permits, a senior transport department official said not many permits were issued except for a few districts like Dindigul.
TOI spotted school and college buses registered in Sivagangai (TN 63), Arni (TN 25), Perambalur (TN 46), Tiruvallur (TN 20) and Kancheepuram (TN 21) in and around Nandanam.
Some of the government Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and moffusil buses were also diverted from regular routes to transport AIADMK party workers.
MTC responded by stating that they were special services and diversions were done to handle the excess crowd in the evening hours.
