“Inconvenience today for a better tomorrow” — this saying resonates as we navigate the streets of Perumbakkam, a reminder that the ongoing Metro Rail construction work promises progress. But when it comes to saving lives, that inconvenience becomes a serious concern that demands immediate attention.
In Perumbakkam, the sound of an ambulance siren has become a haunting reminder of a persistent and growing problem. Instead of speeding through traffic, these emergency vehicles often find themselves trapped — immobilised in a gridlock of cars, school buses, and construction barriers. What should be a quick dash to the hospital often turns into an agonising wait, with precious minutes slipping away in the chaos.
Read more: Residents of Chennai’s Kumarasamy Nagar solve local traffic congestion issues.
A daily struggle for emergency responders
This isn’t a one-off incident; it’s a daily ordeal. Perumbakkam, once a quiet suburb of Chennai, has rapidly developed into a bustling area. With three schools located within a 500-metre radius of each other, the morning and evening rush hours have become a nightmare. The ongoing construction work by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has further narrowed the already constricted roads, leaving little room for vehicles to manoeuvre. This can lead to dire consequences for those caught in the chaotic traffic situation, especially emergency responders.
Ambulance drivers like Alex and Pazhani, who have been navigating these roads for years, feel the pressure. “On a regular day with less traffic, it takes just 22 minutes to get from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to Perumbakkam, and about 60 minutes from Vellore during emergency transport. But now? We’re lucky if we can make it in double that time,” says Alex, reflecting on the growing challenge of getting patients to the hospital for treatment on time.
Ambulances from other hospitals such as Apollo Hospitals, MIOT and Ramachandra Medical College, Porur also take this route.
Balaji, a veteran ambulance driver for 22 years, feels that staggered school timings may help. “Driving an ambulance during school pick-up hours has become incredibly difficult. Sometimes, even the hospital staff has to step out to help clear the traffic. We’re here to save lives, but the gridlock makes it quite difficult. The Metro Rail work is necessary, but until it’s completed, the schools should consider adjusting their timings for arrival and dispersal. This could ease the traffic significantly.”
Read more: Road safety: Accidents continue, measures inadequate
Managing the traffic gridlock
The influx of school buses and the many private cars picking up schoolchildren exacerbates the situation. “Parking is another major issue near the school premises. It’s time to rethink how we manage this traffic, because at the end of the day, saving lives is more important than strictly adhering to school schedules,” Balaji adds.
The daily gridlock is not just a frustration for residents but a serious public safety issue. The usual commute has become an ordeal, with travel times doubling, if not more. The congestion not only causes inconvenience — it endangers lives, as ambulances struggle to reach people with medical emergencies.
The ambulance drivers’ recommendations are practical and urgent: stagger school timings to reduce peak hour congestion, create dedicated lanes for emergency vehicles, and address the parking issues near the schools. With ongoing Metro Rail work, temporary solutions must be found until the work is completed.
As these drivers continue their daily battle against the gridlock, the message is clear: the roads in Perumbakkam are more than just pathways — they are lifelines. The authorities must prioritise public safety by implementing these solutions swiftly, ensuring that the infrastructure keeps pace with the area’s rapid development and that lives are not put at risk because of preventable delays.
What can be done to ease the problem
- The traffic police should work with schools to find a solution to the parking problem and to avoid vehicle parking on the roads.
- The authorities can have dedicated lanes for emergency vehicles and ensure they have right of way.
- Schools can look at staggered timings for the arrival and dispersal of children, by school buses and other vehicles.
- Consider diversions in consultation with residents and educational institutions to ease the traffic.
Do you have a similar traffic problem in your locality? Have you taken measures to ease the situation? Tell us in the comments.
Thanks for bringing it to limelight as these things are usually missed in the existing busy lives!!!
There is one side Metro Train work and the alternative route from Jayachandran to Perumbakkam Church Signal has Metro water and Sewage work. People living and between and the commuters are struggling daily to use the road. No mercy can be expected from the government. Because the roads they commute are clean and good. All the hurdles are only for the public. Metro and Metro water works are killing. Especially standing at the Perumbakkam junction with a pole of waste is an another mess. We don’t bother you’re just a public is the attitude of authorities and the government. Fed-up with these…
Not only perumbakkam. Kindly publish similar article on traffic between MIOT hospital manapakkam till porur saravana stores. the distance is hardly 2-3km but it takes 30-40mins to reach due to heavy traffic because of double decker metro, L&T and DLF. in coming month L&T innovation campus, commercial buildings like centre point, commercezone, RMZ, ASV & Jayant Tech park will be filled with offices and employees. as per contract agreement the deadline for this stretch was Nov 2024. But highly doubt that it will be completed. During rains its even worse. Kindly publish an article on this area traffic. please
Global Hospital one of the most prestigious Hospital in Perumbakkam is surrounded with three schools and 2 Big residential Gated Community. Children’s are unsafe and even residents, elders as there are School bus, Tankers for Casa Grand complex construction and TNEB cable laying work stabbered , damaged the complete road one side and other road work going off for Months. Government has no concern to complete the work asap. Neither the Schools have any concern for children safety as they are least concern about roads in front of their premises. Big shots like Casa granda and Embassy neither has any responsibility for Safety of residents. The electric cable work is kept open and we have incidents like COW died due to short circuit. It’s so pathetic and no control over the issue there is no planning by schools and the Tankers mess everyone in the peak hours. Our Traffic Police takes efforts but they should stop all Tankers during peak time to go in Perumbakkam Global Hospital Road.
If the school pick up location is a side road / street then make it one way and ensure that autos and two wheelers do not enter from the opposite direction. Ask the school to stagger the exit of students or if the school has more than 1 exit, then have kids from 1 to 5 or 6 exit from one gate and 6 or 7 to 12 from another gate. Make the entry to Perumbakkam one way, make another route an exit. This is the only way to ensure there are no bottle necks of opposing traffic. Have dedicated space for parking of 4 wheelers/autos and two wheelers. If a scooter parks at an angle in the space of a car that is waste of space. All this should be done by the govt. There is no point in making all roads as no parking zones. Give Solutions not problems.
Being a long-time resident of Ashok Nagar and having undergone the daily ordeals on the road when Koyambedu to Alandur metro work was under construction and now when I see commuting/driving on the same road to be effortless, I fully understand the sum and substance of the phrase “Inconvenience today is for a better tomorrow”
My question to the authorities and the author of this article is “Why have we not implemented lessons from learnings when fresh diversions are implemented so that inconvenience is mitigated to some extent as it cannot be nullified. With adequate resources available, Are we not sane enough to save patients requiring intense medical attention from experience?
In 2010 we conducted the Commonwealth Games for which the road commute in Delhi was completely modified and raised to meet International standards and Requirements of the Federation. In 2036 we plan to conduct Olympic games. Two years back we conducted G 20 summit. So We have enough experience in regulating traffic.
Without blaming anyone, let us support the authorities and evolve ways to solve the inconvenience during construction. It is after all a temporary arrangement.
Being a long-time resident of Ashok Nagar and having undergone the daily ordeals on the road when Koyambedu to Alandur metro work was under construction and now when I see commute/driving in the same road to be effortless, I fully understand the sum and substance of the phrase “Inconvenience today is for a better tomorrow”
My question to the authorities and the author of this article is “Why have we not implemented lessons from learnings when fresh diversions are implemented so that inconvenience is mitigated to some extent as it cannot be nullified. With adequate resources available, Are we not sane enough to save patients requiring intense medical attention from experience?
In 2010 we conducted Commonwealth Games for which the road commutes in Delhi were completely modified and raised to meet International standards and Requirements of the Federation. In 2036 we plan to conduct Olympic games. Two years back we conducted G 20 summit. So We have enough experience in regulating traffic.
Without blaming anyone, let us support the authorities and evolve ways to solve the inconvenience during construction. It is after all a temporary arrangement.