Chennai witnessed major disruption on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, after persons with disabilities intensified their ongoing protest demanding an increase in government financial assistance, blocking key roads in the Koyambedu area and bringing traffic to a near standstill.
Raising slogans such as “Government of Tamil Nadu, do not betray us” and “Increase the allowance,” protesters were seen rolling on the roads as part of their agitation, drawing attention to their demands.
According to reports, persons with disabilities had been staging protests at multiple locations across the city for the past eight days. On Tuesday, 17 February 2026, more than 500 protesters were detained by police and transported in over 14 Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses to the Koyambedu bus terminus.
However, the detainees refused to disembark and continued their protest inside the buses through the night.
The situation escalated when protesters suddenly got down from the buses on Wednesday. In two separate locations in Koyambedu, groups of over 200 persons each staged road blockade protests, leading to tense scenes.
Protesters occupied both sides of the roadway, halting the movement of vehicles, including city buses. Traffic was brought to a standstill for nearly three kilometres, affecting routes from Vadapalani, Poonamallee High Road and Ashok Nagar, and resulting in severe congestion.
Police presence at the initial stage was limited, as authorities had not anticipated the scale of the escalation. Attempts to remove the protesters were met with resistance, with demonstrators rolling on the roads even as police tried to lift them.
Traffic snarls extended up to four kilometres in some stretches, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
Protesters said their agitation would continue until the government accepted their demand to enhance financial assistance. The demonstration has now entered its ninth consecutive day.
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