Vehicles slow down and jostle for space near the Radha Nagar exit of the newly opened subway, where closely placed speed breakers have emerged as a traffic bottleneck during peak hours.
| Photo Credit: T. Arvind
The limited-use vehicular subway at Radha Nagar in Chromepet, opened on January 7, 2026, after nearly two decades of delay, has brought much-needed relief to commuters by eliminating long waits at Level Crossing 27 on the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road.
Built at a cost of over ₹31 crore, the subway connects neighbourhoods such as Radha Nagar, Nemilichery, Nanmangalam and Kurinji Nagar on the eastern side to the arterial corridor on the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road. Interactions with commuters, residents and traders over the past fortnight suggest broad satisfaction with the facility, though some operational issues remain.
An SUV stuck against the boundary wall while attempting a right turn at the Radha Nagar vehicular subway, underscoring space constraints for larger vehicles.
| Photo Credit:
T. Arvind
Irritants underlined
Motorists driving slightly bigger cars point to the tight left turn from GST Road into the subway, describing it as a near “reverse U-turn”. On the Radha Nagar side, a speed breaker close to the exit has emerged as a choke point, especially during peak hours, when simultaneous U-turns slow down traffic. A recent incident saw an SUV scraping the subway’s boundary wall.
Traders in the area have sought realignment and reduction in the height of the speed breaker, citing safety concerns. According to Sheikh, a trader in Radha Nagar, the subway had been a boon for motorists seeking hassle-free access to GST Road, but added that the speed breakers at the Radha Nagar entrance were causing congestion. “Almost every half-hour during peak time, vehicles struggle to take U-turns along this stretch,” he said. He suggested that the speed breaker could have been placed closer to the culvert near the Canara Bank and expressed doubts over whether its height and width conform to Indian Road Congress norms.
Residents, however, say the subway has significantly cut travel time, particularly for early-morning commuters. For Sridevi, a working professional from Radha Nagar, the subway has eased her early-morning routine of dropping her daughter to board a college bus on GST Road. “Earlier, we had to climb nearly 50 steps on the railway overbridge to reach the other side of the Chromepet bus stand. The subway now saves us both time and effort,” she said
Officials acknowledged minor seepage inside the subway, adding that pumping arrangements would be activated during heavy rain and traffic regulation would be finetuned after the trial phase. Overall, commuters feel the subway has improved connectivity despite its limitations.
Barring a few minor glitches, most commuters say the subway has proved beneficial for regular users. “Given the limited space available, this is perhaps the best that could be achieved,” said Selvi, a flower vendor.
Published – January 24, 2026 08:13 pm IST
