Triplicane High Road grapples with traffic snarls, crumbling infrastructure

Triplicane High Road is one of the busiest streets in Chennai’s core city area. Connecting the historic neighbourhood of Triplicane with Teynampet and Anna Salai, it remains vital for daily movement, serving schoolchildren, residents, shopkeepers, and temple visitors. But its limited width and ageing infrastructure are struggling to keep pace with the daily demand. Adding to the strain, uncleared garbage, stagnant water, and leftover debris have raised concerns about hygiene and walkability along the stretch.

On most days, traffic moves slowly. Vehicles are parked on both sides of the road, often reducing it to a single lane. Two-wheelers and autorickshaws weave through whatever space is left. “There’s no clear flow,” said Karthik T., an auto driver. “It’s unpredictable, especially during school hours or on festival days.”

The road is lined with commercial establishments, small eateries, religious shops and flower vendors, especially near the Parthasarathy Temple. However, the footpaths, where they exist, are either broken or occupied, leaving pedestrians to walk on the road, alongside moving vehicles. This makes it risky for the elderly, schoolchildren, and vendors alike.

Monsoon woes

Waterlogging during rains is another recurring concern. “Even after a short spell of rain, it takes hours to drain,” said Thiru Mohan, who sells corn near the temple entrance. “We can’t move our carts through the water, and the traffic gets worse.” The stagnant water often mixes with uncollected garbage along the edges, creating unhygienic conditions. “The smell lingers for days, and it becomes difficult to even walk past,” said Sambhavi Rajan, a resident living near the temple junction.

The pressure on the road is increased by traffic entering from nearby lanes, such as Agraharam Street, T.P. Koil Street, and Hanumantharayan Street. These smaller streets often lack exit planning, pushing vehicles directly onto the high road and adding to the bottlenecks.

For a street that plays such an important civic and cultural role, Triplicane High Road sees little regulation or planning. Residents and shopkeepers agree that improvements in drainage, pedestrian infrastructure, and parking enforcement are essential for restoring basic movement and safety along this key stretch.