The Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) in Chennai, known for its bustling nature with educational institutions, IT parks, and residential complexes, faces severe traffic congestion. With over 1.6 lakh vehicles and 3 lakh people commuting daily between Madhya Kailash and Tiruporur, the 20-km stretch encounters significant delays, especially during peak hours.
With many entertainment zones like malls, theatres, parks and other recreational activities coming along this region, it has made things worse. The recent congestion that happened during the AR Rahman’s Marakkuma Nenjam concert exposed how inadequate and encroached the road has become.
Frustrated residents report spending up to two hours traveling from Madhya Kailash to Siruseri.
Numerous calls for solutions have been made, emphasizing the lack of grid-road connectivity and delays in proposed flyovers and an elevated road.
Speaking on the problem, BJP leader SG Suryah said that implementing the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) is the way to go to streamline vehicular traffic in the route.
“This system is already in there in cities like Surat, Ahemdabad, Delhi, Pune, etc. Even a smaller city like Amritsar has this system. I wonder what prevents those in power today to implement BRTS in a huge metropolitan city like Chennai which is much needed.”, Suryah said.
Suryah has also released a video of how the proposed project would look like and its impact for people residing in South Chennai.
The dedicated bus corridor would run from Saidapet to Sholinganallur, covering a 22-km stretch with stops at important points like – Madhya Kailash, Thiruvanmiyur, Perungudi, Thoraipakkam.
The implementation of BRTS, according to estimates, is expected to significantly reduce travel time from 1.5 hours to just 30 minutes and decrease private vehicle usage by 43%. This reduction in traffic congestion will have broader environmental benefits by lowering emissions.
Suryah emphasizes the impact on residents during the sweltering summer months, noting that the air-conditioned buses with well-ventilated stops will provide a comfortable travel experience
The BJP leader also said “It’s not just about congestion. Chennai gets extremely hot in summer and people get baked under the sun in sweltering heat. We hear about so many people suffering sun stroke. An ordinary middle class working person travels in that heat to go to their work place to earn a decent living. I can’t even fathom the pressure they through in summers. Since these buses will be airconditioned and the stops will have good ventilation, people will feel comfortable to travel.”
“I think the people of this city deserve better.”, Suryah said.
#தென்சென்னை முக்கிய #OMR சாலையில் நெரிசலை கட்டுப்படுத்த #BRTS திட்டம் மட்டுமே ஒரு தீர்வு. பிரதமர் ஸ்ரீ @narendramodi அவர்கள் தலைமையில், அண்ணன் @annamalai_k அவர்கள் வழிகாட்டுதலில் #தென்சென்னை #OMR சாலையில் BRTS போன்ற பல்வேறு திட்டங்கள் செயல்படுத்தப்படும்.#BRTS is the only… pic.twitter.com/W2AuPIsNfH
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) February 13, 2024
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