CHENNAI: Medavakkam Main Road, a key arterial stretch in south Chennai, has become increasingly difficult to navigate, with commuters facing narrowing road space since encroachments have emerged as a visible problem on the ground.
A lack of clarity between Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and the State Highways Department over maintenance responsibility has compounded the issue.
A recent DT Next report highlighted how encroachments along the stretch have troubled commuters for several months, with construction debris, parked vehicles and other obstructions occupying and reducing usable road width, leading to traffic bottlenecks, particularly during peak hours.
However, when questions are raised about enforcement and upkeep, responsibility remains contested.
According to the State Highway Department, the road currently falls under CMRL's control.
An official said the alignment of the road and the median have been altered due to metro-related works and that demarcation details have not yet been provided to the department.
Until such demarcation is received, the stretch is considered to be under CMRL's monitoring.
CMRL, on the other hand, maintains that it has completed restoration work on a major portion of the road.
Officials said restoration covering nearly 9 km from Adambakkam to Medavakkam was completed, payments were settled, and the road was handed over to the State highways department by October 2025.
Paperwork accessed by DT Next supports CMRL's handover process. However, the state highway department officials dispute.
They argue that road handover implies the completion of works and withdrawal from the site, whereas metro-related construction activities are continuing along the corridor.
"As a parent department, we have also flagged concerns over the condition and maintenance of the road over the past few years," they said. Adding that, "The department has said it will continue to act against encroachments and that the issue will be resolved."
The stretch falls along Chennai Metro Rail Phase II's Corridor 5 (Red Line), which connects Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur, and is currently under construction in phases.