Plan your commute, PM Narendra Modi in Chennai today – Times of India

CHENNAI: If you are an office-goer or have a train or flight to catch on Thursday, start early as city police have predicted slow traffic movement on city’s arterial stretches Anna Salai, Sardar Patel Road and GST road, courtesy Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city. The Prime Minister is set to lay the foundation stone for new projects at an event to be held at the Nehru indoor stadium near Chennai Central railway station.
Modi’s entourage is expected to arrive in the city by 2.30pm and will call on the governor at Raj Bhavan before leaving to the event venue and set off by 7.30pm to New Delhi, police said.
“There is expected to be a pile up on roads surrounding the event venue- EVR Salai, Dasaprakash junction to Madras medical college from 3pm to 8pm, apart from slow traffic movement on arterial stretches like Anna Salai, Sardar Patel Road and GST road. Public are advised to plan their travel accordingly,” an official release said.
Motorists already witnessed a trailer of what’s to come on Thursday with city police carrying out mock-drills at several locations from Wednesday evening, leading to traffic pile up on Anna Salai.
Commuters traveling in Charminar express to Hyderabad, which leaves Chennai central at 6.10pm and those travelling on Bengaluru mail, which departs at 2.45pm will have to reach the Station early to avoid any hassles, police said.
“We have provided adequate arrangements for the commuters travelling by train. However, we advise the public to travel earlier to reach their destination without any delay,” said joint commissioner of police (traffic), J Rajendran.
Chennai police have fortified the city with five-tier security to ensure no untoward incident during the PM’s visit to the city.
As many as 22,000 policemen will be on the city roads and security has been intensified in Chennai airport, the route the Prime Minister is expected to take and at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.