Omnibuses choking the road on Koyambedu and near Rohini Theatre on Friday night.
| Photo Credit: M. VEDHAN

The arterial Poonamallee High Road near Rohini Theatre in Koyambedu has become a major traffic bottleneck every morning, as long-distance private omnibuses arriving in the city park haphazardly along the stretch, causing severe congestion. Residents and motorists say the issue has become a daily ordeal.

The buses, which arrive between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., are often parked in the middle of the road, blocking lanes and disrupting the movement of office-goers and public transport users. “They park without any regard for other vehicles, especially those rushing to work,” said Srinivasan, a car driver from Padikuppam, who added, “Traffic comes to a complete standstill during peak hours as a result of this.”

The situation is compounded by autorickshaws clustering near the omnibuses and occupying the road space, along with encroachments by makeshift auto stands. The problem is particularly acute near the Rohini Theatre junction, where passengers often move towards the Chennai Metro Rail, adding to the congestion.

M. Vishnu, a commuter, noted, “In the mornings, buses are parked side by side, making it impossible for other vehicles to pass. From Nerkundram, it’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. With ongoing development work and road barricades, the already narrow road becomes even more difficult to navigate.”

The problem persists in the evenings as well, when outbound omnibuses pick passengers directly from the roadside, once again occupying crucial road space. Residents from Nolambur, Mogappair, Maduravoyal, and Poonamallee, as well as those entering the city from the outstation routes, are affected. Traffic congestion worsens further when large crowds gather at the theatre during movie releases.

“The police do respond when complaints are raised, but the situation repeats itself the very next day,” said V. Suresh, an advocate. “As soon as the patrol vehicles leave, omnibus drivers return to their old ways. What we need are dedicated bus bays and an enforcement mechanism to penalise illegal parking.”

Despite the inauguration of the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam to relieve congestion on the city roads, private omnibuses continue to enter the city. This is due to a High Court order allowing operators with their own carriage systems to pick passengers from designated points within the city’s limits.

A. Anbalagan, president of the All-Omni Bus Owners’ Association, explained, “Our buses serving the western districts, Andhra Pradesh, and Bengaluru are still allowed to operate from the Koyambedu bus stand. Many of our members have pick-up points near Rohini Theatre, which contributes to the congestion. We have requested the police to allot an alternative space, such as the Market Road, which would ease both traffic and passenger access.”

A senior officer from the Greater Chennai Traffic Police said that personnel and patrol vehicles were deployed daily, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., to manage congestion on the Poonamallee stretch.

“We are making consistent efforts to bring the situation under control,” the officer added.

However, for residents and commuters, a few things are essential to bring about a permanent solution: designated omnibus zones, constant patrolling, and automated enforcement to detect parking violations.