Chennai: Travelling on Royapettah High Road, a vital link between Dr Radhakrishnan Salai and the bustling areas of Mylapore and Mandaveli, has turned into a nightmare for motorists. Residents and commuters are concerned over heavy trucks and containers parked illegally along the median on RH Road towards Mylapore and by the side of the road towards R K Salai, which has reduced the width of the road, especially during peak hours. “The road is choked. There’s barely enough space for cars and buses,” said S Prabhakar, a commuter. “The trucks are just left there — no drivers, no warning signs, nothing,” he said. Vehicles coming from P S Siva Samy Salai take a U-turn close to V M Street and R H Road to reach Brindavan Street and Balakrishna Street. “It’s a complete blind spot when you’re trying to take a U-turn. I’ve had multiple near misses myself,” says Narayanan, a resident of Royapettah. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is working on constructing an underground station on Royapettah High Road, near Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, as part of Phase II of the project. This work involves demolishing part of the existing flyover to make way for the station. The narrowing of the road not only slows down traffic but also raises the risk of head-on collisions, particularly for drivers making turns with limited visibility. “This isn’t just about inconvenience anymore — it’s about safety,” said B Neelakandan, Secretary of Vivekanandapuram Residents Welfare Association. “We’ve seen accidents happen right in front of us. School buses, ambulances, and funeral processions struggle to get through. The road to the crematorium in Mylapore becomes almost impassable during peak hours,” he said. This problem is further compounded by wrong-side driving on this stretch. Motorists say that trucks remain parked throughout the day, with no sign of traffic regulation or enforcement. Calls to the traffic helpline, brought no changes. The absence of active monitoring has made things worse, particularly during rush hours. Residents are now demanding swift action from the city traffic police and civic authorities.