Ashok Nagar traffic changes
Couple of days ago, the Chennai Traffic Department imposed some changes to the traffic on Asok Nagar-Asok Pillar-Udayam Theatre route. Here’s some snaps of the utter chaos that prevailed there on that day.
From the looks of it, I think these changes are also going to solve as much congestion as the traffic change in ‘Chinnamalai-alexander square’ road did. They removed all signals on that stretch and replaced those lights with human traffic police who now stand there on the road all day sweating in the sun stopping vehicles for pedestrians to cross the road. Yeah, the change did make a little difference. But, was it really worth it? Today, that change is just an excuse for autodrivers to charge you more.
En vazheee….. Thaneeeee Vazheee……
No. This is not from a Chiranjeevi starrer!!! The auto driver is coming on the wrong side of a one-way road. Inspite of repeated warnings and shoutings from onlookers as well as Policemen, AND the markings on the road, he kept on driving. Till one officer decided to stop him the ‘Rajni’ way!!!! The brave gentleman literally stopped the autorickshaw by placing his foot on the front wheel!!!
Here’s a close-up of the stunt!!! I just loved the expression and the pose!!! 
If you really brighten up the photo, you can actually see the autodriver grinning!!! The nerve he has!!!
Jokes apart, I really appreciate the patience of these policemen. What made this auto driver think that the one way rule didn’t apply to him? I heard that the police had faced similar insults and disobedience from MTC drivers as well. This can happen only in India. If it were some other developed country. This autodriver would have been arrested and taken into custody from that spot itself. If it were middle east, he would have been half-beaten to death on that spot before being thrown behind the bars for a good part of his life!!!
The police are trying really hard to solve the traffic conditions. And failing miserably. I wonder how long it is before they realize that infrastructural solutions will not solve traffic problems in the long run. Driving discipline and following rules will.
Why is the whole world driving on the wrong side??? Or is it me who is on the wrong side??????
This gentleman here is endangering his life as well as the lives of the two kids by driving in the opposite direction in a one-way road. What was he thinking? “The whole world can follow rules. But, those rules are not for me!! If I can save Rupee 1.00 worth of petrol, then I will even risk killing the kids!!!! To hell with dumbos who follow the rules.”
In the first snap you can see another moron in a yellow bike, following this guy on the wrong side. Hey, I can break the law as long as I am not the only one doing it!!!!
Chaos in front of Udayam Theatre
So, with the new traffic rules, all vehicles going to Vadapalani and 10th Avenue have to touch this junction. This junction is mostly crowded with people entering and exiting Udayam theatre. The snap is a typical scene. See all those people standing there discussing, chatting, gossiping with their vehicles parked on the road. This idle crowd has taken up almost half of the road. And Of course, there are a lot of Vehicles trying to break out of the traffic flow and enter Udayam theatre and other business establishments on that side!!!
They told me not to talk while driving
Yeah! They told me not drive and talk on a cell phone. They didn’t tell me that I cannot stop in the middle of the road, forcing the rest of world drive around me while I converse at my own ease!!! This is called freedom!!! Where else in this world can you stop your vehicle in the middle of the road for a personal reason!!!!????????
A typical interchange
Having interchanges is a bad idea in a world which doesn’t understand indicators (blinkers). On Indian roads, No one respects each others right of the way. It’s your road and your own. You keep on driving the way you want. If others value their life they should be careful!!!
Aah.. the ‘kolams’ by the traffic department
I wonder how many recognize this pattern on the ground. You can see them at all the junctions. These patterns are actually the spaces where vehicles from the right-most lane can move the left most lane in one go or vice-versa. The problem is with chennai’s traffic population, this small stretch of land doesn’t serve the purpose of allowing a driver to move from one extreme end to the other. Especially since other drivers attach no meaning to your blinkers/indicators blinking like crazy!!!!
The Oneth, Twoeth, Threeth… No, it’s not Shakespearean language
How pathetic that no one in the traffic department actually checked these boards before putting them up. Or did they actually check and found no issues with it? Let me think… At which grade (standard) do you learn to say 1st-first, 2nd – second, 3rd-third, 4th-fourth…… aahh, what’s the point anyway. This board was read by many driver as 11th instead of 1st. And I really don’t think the drivers are to be blamed here. The traffic changes almost every month. Why can’t the road layouts change as well?
Nalla post…
Yeap nice post…i can feel the agony and pain u must have undergone facing all this and documenting this…..I agree, the problem with our people is their inhibition of mind and their utter inability to see little bit ahead of present tense…..they never care to think that if they are little bit patient and ready to follow rules in the present tense then may be the future tense will be bright and safe for everyone…..I am happy to see that the gentleman traffic police brings a new image to the police lot….I think it is really unfair that the general public really don´t appreciate the pain they are going thru to put the life of others in order and see to its safety…during my master thesis project i realised what kind of occupational health hazards these poor men undergo due to all those dust and toxic gases that they have to inhale all the day……i would appreciate if all the traffic signals are automated with only these men to control it…….
Nice pics!
Nicer comments!
The problem at the Ashok Nagar pillar is due to the bus stop for buses going south. Wonder why they dont make them use the by pass road from Koyambedu at least during the peak hours?
Kalakal Post.
It was very nice to have all the pics. Especially the shakespearan english was too good. There are things which cannot change in India. Top of all would be traffic. I think we need to do something it. If the government bodies can see this post then they will atleast think to act before they actually do something!!
I think you put an enormous effort behind this post. Really good. 1th Avenue was a good catch. But I do not agree with you on the police man’s Chiranjeevi stunt. The auto driver’s license should be revoked; police man shouldn’t be breaking the auto!!!! On the other hand, I do hate the Indian Police like poison, so
Great Post! It really hurts to admit that Chennai probably has the worst traffic sense amongst all the major Indian cities. I can bear heavy congestion. it is the bane of economic development. But such lawless idiotic driving?!!! It is pathetic!
AG, have you ever been to Hyderabad? Especially the old city?
Great one ……
We cannot just blame people, and not police…
When police stop accepting bribes, common people will be afraid of rules and police.
Even when they are caught by cops, people think they can escape if they pay few hundred bucks to cops.
Both cops and people should change their attitude.
Fantastic post! Great pictures – I think they document the traffic situation in Chennai pretty well.
Also, ‘1th Avenue’?! What a bunch of idiots.
I wouldn’t go that far to call Chennai the worst among metros when it comes to traffic sense mate. I guess Chennai’s pretty decent comparing other metros. Bangalore would easily beat us and yeah I’ve seen in Hyd, people start when your red signal is at 20 secs and counting down. We start at 5 seconds mostly i guess…
But yeah… am gonna be nervous and at the same time a bit aggressive while I do that dumb criss-cross while I watch me back for those koyambedu headed red buses that seem to have the license to kill.
Amazing post finally. Hats off good work and its pleasing to see a good write up about the city after a long time after all the nonsense by Dilip. Dilip you have a lot of learning to do from reading posts like this and refrain from stereotyping in your brahminical ways!
Good work, photos and comments .. Thanks for seeing beyond ” … ‘kolams’ … this small stretch of land doesn’t serve …” .. Everyone need DISCIPLINE. We cannot just blame one person for this, everyone should change and its just not Chennai.
What a wonderful post buddy! I appreciate the time and pain you’ve taken for compiling the pictures about the sad story of Indian traffic. Indian traffic is infamous throughout the world and is often considered as the epitome of indiscipline and sometimes the synonym of indiscipline, intolerance, insensitivity and callousness. If one had driven in India and still have all the organs that take to driving one can confidently drive anywhere in the world (perhaps except in some African countries!). We need to have leaders with vision, who know what discipline is and who retire at least at the age the AIIMS directors are compelled to retire! Till then we’ve to live (oxymoron here?) with this situation!
Once again hats off for a very good post!
@AG,If you think Chennai has the worst traffic situation among Indian cities,think again.And do visit Bangalore once.
Udayms, (how to pronounce your name, as Udayams?), really nice pictures. With all these changes in traffic systems and frequent experimentation with one ways, etc in chennai. I feel that in the future if one want to go from Adyar to Besant Nagar he will have to go to Parrys Corner and then reach Besant Nagar!!!!
fantastic post. Appreciate you efforts for making this post.Hope this effort is not wasted.
Unless these people are punished they wont change..
nice photos..esp rajini act by that police..it was indeed a great story telling pic u’ve captured with arrows and great action going on there..
Good post. appreciate your style man. One aspect missing tho – when the cops break the rules themselves!! I’ve seen it happening very often.
As far as hoping for change is concerned, i would like to quote some gandhigiri on it – “be the change you want to see and then spread the message”
@Shiva: Actually the name is just UDAY. The full name is Uday M. Shankar.. so, I shorten in out as udayms :) ….
@nathan: Thanks to my friend who was right on the spot to catch that stunt in action ;) ….
Holy daddy of the heavens.. say cheese to pell mell again..
Good post maite…
D