Brief
Traffic police shortage stalls Kancheepuram for five hours on Gandhi Jayanti
Severe congestion on major streets lasted from 7 am to 1 pm as the town struggled with a lack of traffic personnel.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Kancheepuram, a temple town near Chennai, experienced a five‑hour traffic jam on Gandhi Jayanti, according to deccanchronicle.com. The snarls began around 7 am and eased only after 1 pm, as vehicles from neighbouring districts converged for the holiday and weekend.
The town’s four main arteries – Kamarajar Street, Nellukara Street, Gandhi Road, Mettu Street and Salai Street – were heavily affected, with pedestrians finding it difficult to cross. Residents said the gridlock stemmed from a chronic shortage of traffic police; the law requires at least 24 officers, but only about seven were on duty.
Police officials linked the problem to Kancheepuram’s recent upgrade to a municipal corporation, noting that the police force still operates under the district structure. They said steps are under way to create a separate city police commissionerate, which would allow more personnel and better traffic management.
Key facts
- The traffic jam lasted from about 7 am to 1 pm on Gandhi Jayanti. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Only around seven traffic police officers were on duty, far below the required 24. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Kancheepuram’s main roads – Kamarajar, Nellukara, Gandhi, Mettu and Salai – were the worst affected. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Police said the issue is tied to the town’s recent elevation to a municipal corporation. (deccanchronicle.com)
Sources
- [1] deccanchronicle.com — originally reported as “Paucity of Traffic Cops, Holidays Halt Kancheepuram for Five Hours With Snarls”
