The Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) has announced comprehensive traffic measures for New Year’s Eve as large crowds are expected at Marina Beach, Elliot’s Beach and other popular city spots. The measures are intended to reduce congestion, prevent bike racing and ensure a safe, accident-free celebration on the night of 31 December into the early hours of 1 January.
Chennai New Year traffic restrictions
Foreshore Service Road will be closed to all traffic from 7pm on Wednesday, 31 December, until 6am on Thursday, 1 January. Vehicles will not be permitted to park along the Foreshore Service Road from 7pm and all traffic in the area will be allowed to exit only through Lighthouse Junction. A stretch of Kamarajar Salai — between the War Memorial and the Lighthouse — will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8pm until 6am.
The loop road from South Canal Bank Road up to Lighthouse Junction may also be closed as required. All city flyovers will be closed from 10pm on 31 December until 6am on 1 January to prevent reckless riding and reduce the risk of accidents.
Significant diversions will be in place to reroute traffic that would normally use Kamarajar Salai. Vehicles approaching from Adyar will be diverted at the Greenways Road and South Canal Road junction towards Mandaveli, R.A. Puram 2nd Main Road, R.K. Mutt Road and Luz Mylapore. Traffic from Dr. R.K. Salai destined for Kamarajar Salai will be diverted at V.M. Street junction via R.K. Mutt Road and Luz Junction towards Santhome High Road and Greenways Road.
Vehicles from Parry’s will be diverted at the RBI subway (North) through North Fort Wall Road, Muthusamy Road and Anna Salai to reach their destinations. The GCTP has also listed a number of approaches from which vehicles will not be allowed to proceed towards Kamarajar Salai, including Wallajah Point, Swami Sivananda Salai and several junctions around Victoria Hostel Road and Lloyds Road.
Public bus services will see temporary route changes. North-bound MTC buses from Greenways Point will be diverted at the R.K. Mutt U-turn via Thiruvengadam Street, Devanathan Street and other connecting roads. Buses travelling from north to south will be diverted at RBI North, routing via Muthusamy Point, Anna Salai, Cathedral Road and Mandaveli to reach South Canal Road.
Parking arrangements have been organised to ease congestion around Kamarajar Salai and Elliot’s Beach. Designated parking locations around Kamarajar Salai include Swami Sivananda Salai, Wallajah Road, Island Ground, PWD Ground (opposite the Secretariat), Press Club Road, Kalaivanar Arangam and several educational institution campuses and grounds. At Elliot’s Beach, multiple avenues and main roads in Besant Nagar will permit single-line parking, and Olcott School has been listed for additional space. 6th Avenue will be blocked at several junctions from 8pm until 6am to control vehicular access near Annai Velankanni Church.
The GCTP said it will be utilising ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition) and CCTV cameras to automatically detect Motor Vehicles Act violations and generate challans. Enforcement will be intensified against driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, rash and dangerous driving, triple riding, riding without protective head gear and use of tampered silencers.
Motorists and visitors are advised to plan ahead, use public transport where possible and follow diversion signs and police instructions. The city police urged everyone to cooperate for a safe and orderly celebration and to avoid areas that are likely to be cordoned off or heavily congested.
Key Takeaways:
- Chennai New Year traffic restrictions will close key stretches of Kamarajar Salai and Foreshore Service Road from the night of 31 December to the morning of 1 January.
- Authorities have announced diversions for vehicles and buses, and designated multiple temporary parking zones around Marina and Elliot’s Beach.
- GCTP will use ANPR and CCTV enforcement and step up checks for drunk driving, speeding, triple riding and helmet violations.
