If you drive past the TTK Road and Sriram Nagar junction in Alwarpet, you can no longer turn the way you used to. The Greater Chennai Traffic Police have restricted movements there for three months for Chennai Metro tunnel cross-passage work, DT Next reported on 6 October. The notice said the restrictions start on Thursday, 9 October. Thursday was in fact 8 October, so the restrictions have been in force since that week.
TTK Road is one of several metro work zones on the Phase 2 underground corridors. Below are the current diversions, how to check new ones and how to look up and pay a traffic e-challan if a camera has caught you.
The TTK Road diversion
- Vehicles coming from Adyar Gate Hotel and Abhiramapuram 4th Street can no longer go straight into Sriram Nagar North Street. They must use TTK Road 1st Cross Street.
- Vehicles coming out of Sriram Nagar North Street towards TTK Road are also restricted. They have to go via North Street and then TTK Road 1st Cross Street.
- The arrangement is for about three months, so it should run until early January 2027 unless the police extend or end it sooner.
The notice did not give daily hours or vehicle classes. If you drive a heavy vehicle or school van through this junction, watch for the police barricades and signage on the spot.
Other metro diversions to know
LB Road, Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur. Since 27 June 2026, LB Road has been closed between the Indian Oil petrol bunk signal and the LB Road and MG Road junction for underground metro work, DT Next reported. Buses and heavy vehicles are sent through MG Road and Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road and 1st Avenue. Light vehicles going to Thiru Vi Ka Bridge use Indira Nagar 2nd Avenue, which heavy vehicles may not use. Shastri Nagar 1st Main Road is one-way towards the bridge, and 11th Cross Street is one-way towards Thiruvanmiyur. No end date was given.
OMR near Tidel Park. In the first week of September, the incoming carriageway between Tidel Park junction and Indira Nagar signal was closed from 11 pm to 5 am on several nights for metro-related sewer work, DT Next reported. More night closures like this are likely on OMR as Corridor 3 work continues.
Other locations. CMRL’s road diversion page lists every diversion point by corridor. On Corridor 3 these include Otteri, Perambur Market, Purasaiwalkam High Road, Nungambakkam High Road, Mylapore, Mandaveli, RK Salai, Adyar and Thoraipakkam. On Corridor 4 they include Kodambakkam, Panagal Park, Nandanam, Chamiers Road, Alwarpet and Kutchery Road. On Corridor 5 they include Kolathur, Villivakkam, Butt Road, Madipakkam and Medavakkam Main Road. Each entry opens a page with a route map.
How to keep track of new diversions
- Check CMRL’s road diversion page before a new route, especially in Mylapore, Nungambakkam and Adyar.
- Follow the Greater Chennai Traffic Police announcements, which are usually issued a day or two before a change and carried by local papers.
- Use a live map app for current congestion, but go by the police signage at the site if they disagree.
- MTC buses on diverted roads change their stops too. Check the Chennai Bus app if your usual stop seems to have gone.
Checking and paying an e-challan
Traffic fines in Tamil Nadu are issued through the national e-challan system on Parivahan. The Ministry of Road Transport describes it as a paperless enforcement system. Chennai’s signal and speed cameras feed into it, and so do the handheld machines used by traffic police. The Tamil Nadu Transport Department’s website links to it under its “pay your challan / traffic fine” option.
The general process:
- Open the e-challan service from the Parivahan or TN Transport site, or use the mParivahan app.
- Search using your challan number, vehicle registration number or driving licence number.
- Check the photo or offence details. If you think the challan is wrong, do not pay it. Use the grievance or contest option shown, or approach the traffic police.
- Pay online and save the receipt. Pending challans can hold up later RTO work on the vehicle, such as transfer of ownership.
Be careful with SMS links claiming to be traffic fines. Use only the official Parivahan or state transport website. Never pay through a link sent by an unknown number, and report suspected fraud on cybercrime.gov.in or the 1930 helpline.
Quick answers
How long is the TTK Road diversion?
About three months from the second week of October 2026, for metro tunnel work at the Sriram Nagar junction.
Where can I see all metro-related diversions in Chennai?
CMRL’s road diversion page lists them by corridor and location.
How do I pay a Chennai traffic fine online?
Through the e-challan service on Parivahan or the TN Transport Department website. Search by challan, vehicle or licence number and pay online.
For legal disputes over a challan, consider advice from a lawyer.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Road Diversion (CMRL)
- Parivahan Sewa (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways)
- Transport Department, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Chennai traffic cops announce diversions near TTK Road for three months (DT Next)
- Traffic diversions on LB Road from June 27 for CMRL construction works (DT Next)
- Traffic diversions on OMR for Metro Rail works (DT Next)
