Chennai was the first Indian city to adopt a policy putting walking and cycling first. The Corporation Council passed its non-motorised transport (NMT) policy in October 2014, setting a target of continuous footpaths on most streets and a share of the transport budget for pedestrians and cyclists, according to Chennai Smart City. A decade on, the record is patchy: some showpiece streets, many broken pavements and very little cycle lane.
Spending tells part of the story. Footpath investment averaged about Rs 72 crore a year after the policy, then fell to about Rs 13 crore a year between 2022 and 2025, Down To Earth reported, citing ITDP. The 2025 Corporation budget then promised Rs 200 crore for walking and cycling. Here is what exists on the ground and how to get a broken footpath fixed.
What has been built
- Bus-route streets: over 170 km of streets were redeveloped under the Complete Streets project between 2014 and 2020, according to DT Next, improving access to metro stations, railway stations and hundreds of bus stops.
- T Nagar: 23 roads were redesigned with continuous footpaths, street furniture, lighting and bollards, and Pondy Bazaar was turned into a pedestrian plaza with wide pavements and a narrowed carriageway, Chennai Smart City says.
- Cycle tracks: few and short. Of three tracks totalling 3.8 km laid in KK Nagar in 2017, only two remain, on PT Rajan Salai and Ramaswamy Salai, Down To Earth found. A 17 km exclusive cycle lane was listed as planned under the smart city programme.
The numbers explain why cycling has faded. Sidewalks cover about 17% of the city’s roads and cycle lanes 0.26%, according to a 2021 national assessment cited by Down To Earth. The share of trips by bicycle fell from 6% in 2008 to 2.9% a decade later.
Safety: why this matters
Pedestrians make up a growing share of road deaths in Chennai. ITDP figures cited by Down To Earth put pedestrian fatalities at 11% of all road deaths in 2019 and 43% by 2023. Chennai recorded over 5,000 road accidents in 2021, the highest among Indian cities in NCRB data, and 3,452 in 2022.
Practical tips for walking in the city:
- Use signalised crossings and subways where they exist, even if it means a detour. Mid-block dashes across arterial roads cause many deaths.
- Wear something light-coloured or reflective after dark, especially on roads without streetlights.
- During the northeast monsoon, avoid walking through water on unfamiliar streets. Open drains and stormwater works can hide under it.
- Cyclists should use a front and rear light and stay left. Helmets are not compulsory for bicycles but are sensible.
Public bike sharing: where it stands
The Corporation launched a public bicycle-sharing scheme in 2019 under a seven-year design-build-finance-operate contract. The private operator runs dockless cycles from designated slots with an app and cashless payment. In its first year it recorded 34,432 registrations and 1,25,361 rentals, according to Chennai Smart City.
Maintenance has been the weak point. In May 2024, DT Next found about 1,073 cycles across 135 locations, with many stands down to one or two bikes, rusting stands at Nungambakkam and broken e-bikes waiting for imported spare parts. Riders paid about Rs 6 an hour. Expansion was put on hold. We could not find a more recent official update on the scheme’s status, so check the operator’s app before you count on a cycle being there.
At metro stations, CMRL lists free bicycles, rental bikes, rental autos and rental e-cycles as part of its feeder services. Availability varies by station.
How to report a broken or blocked footpath
- Take a clear photo showing the damage or encroachment and note the street and nearest landmark.
- Call the Corporation’s complaint line, 1913, or file on the GCC grievance portal or Namma Chennai app, all linked from the GCC website.
- For vehicles parked on footpaths, report to the traffic police, who handle parking enforcement.
- If the problem returns, quote your earlier complaint number. Local resident associations often get faster action by raising issues together at ward level.
Contractors who dig up renovated footpaths for utility work are supposed to pay double the restoration charges, DT Next reported, so a dug-up pavement is worth reporting quickly.
Quick answers
Does Chennai have cycle lanes?
Very few. About 0.26% of road length had cycle lanes in a 2021 assessment. Short tracks exist in KK Nagar.
Is Chennai’s bike-sharing scheme still running?
It was running in May 2024 with about 1,073 cycles but with many poorly maintained. No newer official update was found.
How do I complain about a damaged footpath?
Call 1913 or use the GCC grievance portal or Namma Chennai app.
What is Chennai’s NMT policy?
A 2014 Corporation policy that puts walking and cycling first in street design and spending.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Focus areas: NMT, pedestrian plaza and bicycle sharing (Chennai Smart City Ltd)
- Cycle sharing system (Chennai Smart City Ltd)
- Greater Chennai Corporation: complaint number 1913 and grievance portal (GCC)
- Feeder services at metro stations (Chennai Metro Rail Ltd)
- How India moves: is Chennai walkable and bicycle-friendly? (Down To Earth)
- Chennai’s footpath crisis: missing pavements put pedestrians in peril (DT Next)
- Bought at Rs 40,000 each, smart bikes chained to rust in Chennai (DT Next)
