Night-time barricades in Chennai lead to traffic snarls during day

Chennai: Barricades installed for night-time policing across Chennai are triggering morning traffic snarls, with commuters citing poor planning and delayed clearance.The situation worsens during peak hours as barricades installed overnight are often left in place well into the morning. While these structures are intended to slow down vehicles at night and deter antisocial elements, they become a major obstacle during rush hour, when traffic volume surges. Commuters are forced to navigate zigzag paths, significantly reducing speed and increasing travel time.Arterial stretches such as Anna Salai, GST Road, Poonamallee High Road, Kodambakkam High Road, Rajaji Salai, Sardar Patel Road, ECR and OMR are among the worst affected. Motorists complain that barricades are often placed without clear purpose, with no visible checks being conducted in several locations, particularly in areas such as Saidapet, Butt Road, Ekkatuthangal, Taramani, Nandanam and T Nagar. In many stretches, barricades are positioned too close to intersections and turns, forcing vehicles to slow down abruptly and disrupting the natural flow of traffic. The problem is compounded by the lack of reflective markings or adequate lighting, making them difficult to spot, especially during late nights, early morning hours or in low-visibility conditions."It's frustrating to see these barricades still blocking roads in the morning when traffic is at its peak," said Naveena, a daily commuter near Taramani. "They may serve a purpose at night, but during the day, they only create chaos.""Police have to adopt a more dynamic approach, ensuring removal or repositioning of these barricades after night operations," said Kanniyappan from Saidapet.Traffic experts point out that while enforcement measures are necessary, their execution must be time-sensitive and data-driven. "Barricading without real-time assessment of traffic flow can do more harm than good," said a city-based urban transport analyst, Martin P. He added that leaving barricades unattended during peak hours reflects poor coordination between enforcement and traffic management teams.