Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Traffic Police Shortage Leaves Kancheepuram Gridlocked for Hours
Kancheepuram had very heavy traffic on Gandhi Jayanti.
The traffic jam lasted from about 7 in the morning until 1 in the afternoon.
Many people were visiting during the holiday and weekend.
Several main roads became crowded, and some pedestrians had trouble crossing.
Residents said there were too few traffic police officers to manage the roads.
They also pointed to auto-rickshaws stopping near the bus stand and picking up passengers in the road.
Residents asked officials to add officers and clear road encroachments.
Police said the city’s police administration is being reorganized, and a separate city police structure is planned.
Officials said additional staff could help address traffic problems once that structure is established.
Kancheepuram faced severe congestion from about 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Gandhi Jayanti, with holiday traffic adding to the pressure.
Long queues formed on major roads, including Kamarajar Street, Nellukara Street, Gandhi Road, Mettu Street and Salai Street.
Residents said only around seven traffic personnel were available, compared with a stated requirement of at least 24, and the city had lacked a dedicated traffic inspector for months.
Congestion near the Kamarajar Road bus-stand entrance was worsened by indiscriminate auto-rickshaw parking and roadside passenger pickups.
Residents and civic activists called for more traffic personnel and removal of road encroachments; police cited an administrative transition and plans for a separate city police commissionerate.
- Who
- Motorists, residents, devotees and tourists in Kancheepuram were affected; residents, civic activists and police officials commented on the problem.
- What
- Severe traffic congestion lasted for more than five hours amid a reported shortage of traffic police personnel.
- When
- Gandhi Jayanti, from around 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- Kancheepuram, especially major roads and the Kamarajar Road bus-stand entrance.
- Why
- Holiday traffic increased vehicle volumes, while residents cited insufficient traffic personnel and road encroachments; police also pointed to an administrative transition.
Residents and civic activists
Police officials
Causes and remedies for congestion
Residents and civic activists
Residents attributed the congestion mainly to too few traffic personnel and the absence of a dedicated traffic inspector. They sought more officers and removal of encroachments.
Police officials
Police officials said the issue was partly related to the administrative transition after Kancheepuram became a municipal corporation; they said steps were being taken to establish a separate city police commissionerate and obtain additional personnel and officers.
Bus-stand area traffic
Residents and civic activists
The report describes concerns about auto-rickshaws being parked indiscriminately near the bus-stand entrance and picking up passengers from the middle of the road.
Police officials
The article does not report a specific police response to the auto-rickshaw parking and passenger pickups.
- Reported congestion period
- Around 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Occasion
- Gandhi Jayanti Day, during weekend holidays
- Traffic personnel available
- Around seven, according to the report
- Stated staffing requirement
- At least 24 traffic personnel
- Dedicated traffic inspector
- Residents said Kancheepuram had been without one for several months
- Affected roads
- Kamarajar Street, Nellukara Street, Gandhi Road, Mettu Street and Salai Street
- Proposed administrative change
- A separate Kancheepuram city police commissionerate