Nanganallur residents urge government to speed up Pazhavanthangal subway link road
Residents and activists in Nanganallur, Meenambakkam, and Kilkattalai have urged the Greater Chennai Corporation and the State government to expedite a proposed straight road linking the Pazhavanthangal subway with Fifth Main Road. The project, located in Ward 164 of Zone 12, is aimed at easing severe traffic congestion and improving east-west connectivity, but has faced delays due to pending land acquisition.
The State government's Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department issued a Government Order on October 14, 2025, sanctioning ₹29.57 crore for the acquisition and transfer of 1,069.25 square metres of land. Despite this, residents allege that the Revenue Department has yet to complete the land acquisition process, stalling the project's execution.
The Pazhavanthangal subway originally opened in 1997 in place of Railway Level Crossing 1978, serving as a vital link between Nanganallur, Pazhavanthangal, and GST Road. However, motorists currently face severe bottlenecks at the College Road-Fifth Main Road junction.
V. Rama Rao, founder of the United Forum of Nanganallur Welfare Associations, stated that a sharp curve immediately after the subway exit is a major design flaw. He explained that negotiating this sharp left turn is particularly difficult for Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses. Rama Rao noted that only a handful of properties remain to be acquired and urged the Revenue Department to speed up the process.
The traffic issues have also affected nearby residential areas. Badri Narayanan, a local resident, noted that one-way restrictions at the Vembuliamman Koil Street junction have diverted heavy traffic and constant honking to Elango Adigal Street and Fourth Main Road, causing major inconvenience to students and senior citizens. Another resident, Venkatesan, reported being caught in peak-hour traffic snarls at the College Road junction due to one-way violations.
Alandur MLA M. Harish stated that discussions were recently held with officials regarding the delay. He noted that outstanding issues involving a few property owners are being resolved, and he expects the road project to be completed by October.
