Sun Jan 19 18:52:30 UTC 2025: **Chennai Traffic Gridlock as Pongal Holidaymakers Return**
**Chennai, January 20, 2025** – Heavy traffic congestion snarled the GST Road in Chennai on Sunday evening as residents returning from Pongal holiday celebrations overwhelmed the roadways. The stretch between Perungalathur and Tambaram saw vehicles bumper-to-bumper for over a kilometer, with delays extending travel times by up to two hours. Similar congestion occurred at the Paranur toll gate in Chengalpattu on Saturday and Sunday.
While the Tambaram Police Commissionerate deployed officers to manage traffic flow and diverted heavy vehicles through Oragadam, the measures proved insufficient to alleviate the significant delays. Authorities in Chengalpattu implemented additional diversions via Singaperumal Koil junction to ease congestion. To further assist, the National Highways Authority of India temporarily disabled boom barriers at Paranur and Vikravandi toll plazas to expedite traffic flow.
Southern Railway added extra suburban train services from Kattankulathur to Tambaram from 4 a.m. to 6.20 a.m. on Monday to help ease the burden on road traffic. Commuters reported significant delays in Maduranthakam and Chengalpattu in addition to Perungalathur.
First Piper 