Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Holiday Return Rush Causes Tailbacks on Chennai-Tiruchy Highway
Many people returned to Chennai after school and public holidays.
They mostly travelled back on Sunday night and Monday morning.
This made the road from Chennai toward Tiruchy very crowded.
Cars and buses moved slowly near Tambaram.
Trains and bus stations were also packed with passengers.
Some people could not find a bus and took an auto instead.
The article says some auto drivers charged high fares.
There were fewer police officers available to help manage traffic because many were working on by-election security.
Heavy traffic built up on the Chennai-Tiruchy highway from Sunday night into Monday as holidaymakers returned to Chennai.
The school quarterly break and three consecutive Gandhi Jayanthi holidays brought many people back to work and school on Monday.
Vehicles queued from Singaperumalkoil, while traffic between Perungalathur and Tambaram moved very slowly.
Passengers faced crowded suburban trains and long ticket queues, while MTC buses at Tambaram and bus services elsewhere were insufficient for demand.
Police traffic deployment was limited because many officers were assigned to security for the Madhuranthagam by-election; some auto rides were reported to cost up to Rs 1,000.
- Who
- People returning to Chennai after school and public holidays, including workers and students.
- What
- A major traffic and public transport rush caused highway tailbacks, crowded trains and buses, and long ticket queues.
- When
- From Sunday night to Monday morning, with crowded MTC buses continuing until Monday afternoon.
- Where
- The Chennai-Tiruchy highway and transport hubs including Tambaram and Kilambakkam.
- Why
- Many people returned after the school quarterly holidays and three continuous holidays for Gandhi Jayanthi.
- Traffic period
- Sunday night to Monday morning
- Road affected
- Chennai-Tiruchy national highway
- School holidays ended
- October 4
- Congested stretch
- Perungalathur to Tambaram
- Reported auto fare to Chromepet
- Rs 500
- Reported auto fare to Pallavaram
- Rs 700
- Reported auto fare to the airport
- Rs 1,000