Pongal Rush: Around 11 Lakh Leave Chennai, Transport Networks Under Strain
An estimated 11 lakh people travelled out of Chennai over the weekend ahead of the Pongal festival, leading to a sharp surge in demand for public transport and heavy congestion on major highways.
Railways handled the maximum load, with over seven lakh passengers travelling by train in the last two days. Nearly 180 trains operated daily from Chennai Central, Egmore, and Tambaram, including special services to southern districts, carrying around 3.65 lakh passengers per day.
Road travel witnessed severe delays, especially on the GST Road, where traffic stretched for several kilometres between Tambaram and Guduvanchery despite additional police deployment.
Bus services were also ramped up, with over 5,500 buses operated from major terminals, transporting around 2.47 lakh commuters. More than 10,000 special buses have been planned between January 9 and 14 to meet festive demand.
Private omnibuses reported increased bookings, with fares on some routes rising by about 25%. Authorities expect continued pressure on transport services as Pongal celebrations continue and have advised travellers to plan return journeys in advance.
