Tambaram gets ‘traffic marshal’ two-wheelers to tackle congestion, accidents

The Tambaram City Traffic Police (TCTP) have launched an initiative to improve road safety and traffic management by introducing 26 ‘traffic marshal’ two-wheelers. These vehicles will patrol Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), East Coast Road (ECR), 200 Feet Radial Road, and other important arterial roads within the TCTP limits.

Each vehicle is equipped with a public address system, siren, and blinking lights to improve visibility, especially during night patrols and rush hours. The traffic marshals will work in eight-hour shifts, focusing on peak hours, clearing traffic congestion, managing accident scenes, assisting with vehicle breakdowns, and ensuring smooth traffic flow near educational institutions and offices.

Launching the initiative on Wednesday (July 2, 2025), Tambaram City Police Commissioner Abin Dinesh Modak said the TCTP has also carried out several improvement drives to make roads safer and more efficient, as well as special drives to remove roadside encroachments on major arterial roads. More than 150 roadside food carts have been removed, Mr. Abin said.

Wrong-side driving

Strict enforcement against wrong-side driving has led to the registration of more than 4,000 cases. Major changes, like the improvements made at the Kamatchi Hospital Junction, where waiting timing has reduced considerably, have been introduced. Similarly, the implementation of a one-way system in Kundrathur has also helped in easing traffic, he said.

As a result of these efforts, traffic rule enforcement has significantly increased. A total of 2,25,109 cases under the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act were registered as of June 2025, up from 1,50,778 cases in 2024. Helmet violation cases alone rose to 48,551, compared to 26,051 last year.

Drunken driving enforcement has also been intensified. The TCTP registered 4,827 cases in 2025, up from 1,937 in 2024. All offenders faced licence cancellation as part of stricter penalties. Increased late-night patrolling contributed to a drop in accidents during night hours, he added.

The officer said public awareness and community engagement remain a key focus, and campaigns like the ‘No Helmet No Ride’ programme aim to encourage helmet use. Special drives against wrong-side driving and workshops for auto and cab drivers promote safe driving habits and better legal compliance, he added.

All accident-prone areas, or ‘black spots’, have been fixed through coordination with local civic bodies, road authorities, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said traffic police officials.