Chennai residents flag rising congestion, illegal parking on Khader Nawaz Khan Road

Vehicles continue to be parked on pavements and along the roadside due to lack of parking facilities or monitoring on Khader Nawaz Khan (KNK) Road, which was recently relaid. Sections of the newly-laid paver blocks are also damaged or have been dug up again for utility works. Residents say encroachments add to the problem, and congestion on the stretch has only been increasing. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) began work on this road in 2023, but the project remains incomplete.

Mahesh Reddy, a resident of Haddows Road, said work was progressing but slowly. “People have raised compound walls close to the KNK Road, which also decreases the carriageway width. This does not shrink the road drastically, but, with increased pedestrian walkway size, rampant illegal roadside parking — the carriageway reduction seems significant. Further, due to Chennai Metro Rail construction going on the Uthamar Gandhi Road, the bylanes are always congested… There is no designated car parking facility completed here,” he said.

Thameem, an autorickshaw driver, said tea shops also encroach on the pavements. “Neither the police, nor the Chennai Corporation have taken action to curb roadside parking,” he said.

“Also, the roads leading to the GCC park, and to the hospital, have many potholes. Interior lanes remain difficult for pedestrians to use. Many people pass by Wallace Garden, Rutland Gate, and Haddows Road daily. Yet, no attention has been given to rectifying problems,” he added.

Workers were seen digging up parts of the pavement on Saturday, allegedly for stormwater drain work.

The Chennai Corporation had proposed a multilevel car parking on KNK Road in May 2024. “In the coming days, Corporation officials will coordinate with the police to control parking on pavements. At least 150 vehicles drive through this lane to get to TVS Motor Company. Since there is a major hospital facility as well here, apart from commercial spaces, there is more congestion. This is expected to ease once Metro Rail work is over,” said an official with the Special Projects wing.

On the parking facility, he said, “At present, there is not enough space, and in places where land is available, there are complications due to existing services such as drains. There are also challenges in bringing in private operators under the public–private partnership model. We are currently identifying other land pockets, including areas near Uthamar Gandhi Salai.”

Regarding the ongoing construction activity, he said he would check the complaint. On encroachments, he said a request had been sent to the Land and Revenue Departments for cross-verification of patta details. “This matter is under examination,” he added.