Commuters in and around Mylapore are facing a nightmare due to diversions, circuitous routes, and poorly maintained roads caused by the construction of a large Metro Rail station. The re-routing of vehicles through narrow streets has led to congestion and inconvenience for residents and commuters alike. Concerns about the condition of unmotorable roads such as Thiruvengadam Street and Mundakanniamman Koil Street have been raised by locals, who demand improvements and repairs.
The increased travel time and fuel expenses have hit middle-class and poor commuters the hardest. Autorickshaw drivers, like Justin Thiraviyam, lament the daily costs incurred due to detours. Residents also expressed worries about the safety of children due to the absence of well-maintained footpaths and barely visible bus stops.
Despite assurances from Chennai Metro Rail Limited officials about addressing these issues, commuters fear that congestion will worsen unless immediate action is taken to resolve road conditions and traffic management. Police efforts to mitigate the situation include deploying marshals, introducing no-entry zones, and educating residents about diversions, but challenges persist, particularly with newcomers not adhering to traffic rules.