CHENNAI: Heavy traffic choked the Tiruchy–Chennai National Highway on Monday (January 5) as thousands of residents returned from their native places in southern districts after schools reopened after half-yearly exam holidays, Christmas and New Year celebrations, while government and private offices also resumed regular functioning.

With a large number of private vehicles as well as government and private buses on the road, traffic flow was severely affected on the highway. Vehicles moved at a snail's pace, causing hardship to motorists.

Long queues of vehicles were reported from Singaperumal Koil to Thirutheri, with severe congestion at Madurantakam, Pukkathurai, Patalam, Mamandur and Chengalpattu. Ambulances were among those severely affected, struggling to pass through the gridlocked stretches.

Vehicles travelling from Tiruchy towards Chennai faced repeated congestion, first near Chengalpattu and later at Kilambakkam bus stand, Vandalur Zoo, and the Perungalathur flyover.

Also, heavy congestion was reported near the Tambaram bus stand, further adding to the chaos. A large number of train passengers arriving from southern districts alighted at Tambaram and crowded the bus stand in search of buses and autorickshaws, resulting in severe traffic snarls on GST Road.

To regulate traffic and ease the situation, traffic police and National Highway Patrol personnel were deployed at key points.