CHENNAI: The Pallavaram–Thoraipakkam Radial Road, once just a connector between GST Road and OMR, is now turning into a real estate magnet — but the infrastructure is struggling to keep up. As towering residential blocks and sprawling IT parks rise along the 200ft-wide stretch, traffic snarls, poor drainage, and civic delays are threatening to trip up its transformation.Around 2,500 residential units are already under construction along the corridor, with major projects by top developers nearing completion. That number is set to surge, with two massive township-style developments expected to add more than 4,000 apartments between 2025 and 2030.“The Radial Road is no longer just a transit route. It’s becoming a self-sustained urban zone with residential and commercial balance,” said Viswajith Kumar, treasurer, Credai Chennai.Sanjay Chugh, director at Anarock, said homebuyers investing in the location now stand to gain from both shortterm traction and long-term value appreciation.The commercial boom is equally aggressive. An 8.3 lakh sqft IT complex is coming up with an investment of 400 crore, while phase 2 of an international tech park is adding 13 lakh sqft of Grade A office space. Several other developers are expected to add more than 4 million sqft of commercial space in the coming years.“At least 12 to 13 million sqft of commercial space will be added in the coming years,” VS Sridhar, Executive Managing Director, Tamil Nadu & Kerala & Head GCC Advisory- Operations, Cushman & Wakefield, said. “This is a major growth corridor after OMR, mainly because it is closer to the city with multiple entry and exit points.”But the stretch, he said, needs last-mile connectivity to reach full potential. “We need metro connectivity or a Bus Rapid Transit System connecting Pallavaram to Thoraipakkam,” he said.

Despite this growth, the civic skeleton hasn’t evolved at the same pace. “The Radial Road may be Chennai’s next big growth corridor, but unless the groundwork is strengthened, it risks becoming a case study in how to build skywards without looking down,” said an urban planner.B Vijayalakshmi, founder-president of the Federation of Radial Road Residents Association, said, “The roads have been dug up for the canal work connecting Narayanapuram Lake to the Pallikaranai marshland. It doesn’t even look like a 200-feet road anymore. We have been demanding proper water supply and underground sewage connections for a longtime. This stretch falls under the jurisdiction of Greater Chennai Corporation, Kovilambakkam, and Tambaram corporation. And, hospitals, commercial establishments, and even sewage and water lorries regularly park their vehicles along the roadside.”Daily commuters complain of heavy traffic during peak hours, worsened by limited public transport options. Monsoon flooding is a recurring nightmare due to inadequate stormwater drains.Urban planners warn that uncoordinated growth could choke the very promise of attracting developers. “With high-profile projects set to bring in thousands of new residents and workers, the demand on roads, water, waste, and transport systems will only intensify. Govt should improve road quality, drainage, and mobility infrastructure before the next wave of developments hit the ground,” said a senior planner.