Urban congestion issues reported in Chennai and Kochi

Urban centers in India are facing increasing challenges regarding pedestrian safety and traffic flow due to unregulated roadside activities. In Chennai, residents of KK Nagar report that continuous parking of cars, autorickshaws, and commercial vehicles on Nesapakkam Erikarai Link Road and Anna Main Road has narrowed the carriageway. This congestion forces pedestrians to walk on the road and makes it difficult for motorists to navigate turns safely. While the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has provided specific parking facilities for battery-operated vehicles, many residents have moved their vehicles to the main road due to a lack of private parking space.

In Kochi, the rehabilitation of street vendors remains unresolved despite a 2025 list identifying 2,347 vendors in need of relocation. Unauthorized roadside vending continues to cause inconvenience to pedestrians and disrupt traffic movement. Although the corporation has identified over 1,000 vendors for relocation, the allocation of specific zones is still ongoing. Political opposition has criticized the delay in the process, noting that only 4% of identified vendors are currently using official kiosks.