A section of Anna Salai choked with traffic just ahead of the left turn towards Dams Road, after changes to the traffic pattern were implemented by police near Tarapore Towers on Saturday without removing encroachments or installing the required traffic signals, leading to long tailbacks during peak hours.
Under the revised arrangement, vehicles heading towards Broadway via Anna Salai can either proceed through Dams Road–Blackers Road and rejoin Anna Salai, or continue straight along the arterial Anna Salai. The vehicles coming from Periyar Statue’s side and Walajah Road towards LIC were blocked near the Buhari Hotel, as a new opening has been made for the vehicles to take a right towards Dams Road.
Srinivasan, a motorist coming from Broadway, said, “It is very difficult to cross the stretch as the police blocked the flow of vehicles coming from Bata point and Walajah road junction during peak hours or non-peak hours. Vehicles are lining up on Anna Salai from Anna Statue to G.P. Road junction.”
“With the change in the traffic pattern, it is easier for the people coming from Spencer Signal towards Anna Statue and beyond, since two ways have been opened- one is straight on Anna Salai, and another is towards Dams Road and Blackers Road to reach Anna Salai. But the problem is that there is no proper traffic signal installed here for the vehicles coming from Bata point on the side of the roads to turn towards Dams Road,” said Karthikeyan, another motorist.
Motorists have demanded a clear plan for managing traffic at the G.P. Road junction, the Anna Salai-Dams Road junction, and the zebra crossing, and for a traffic signal to be established here.
A senior police officer of Greater Chennai City Traffic said, ”We have introduced changes here for smooth traffic flow on Anna Salai adjoining area on a trial basis. After studying the flow of traffic and other factors, we may incorporate suggestions from the public and try to revive the system which existed previously a couple of years ago. We deployed more personnel at the junction to regulate the traffic. Things may improve further, though initial hiccups cropped up here. We are also constantly removing vehicles parked on the road sides near the restaurants and issuing challans.”
Published - July 25, 2026 08:58 pm IST