Many voters were eager to cast their ballots in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election and began travelling from Chennai and other major cities to southern districts from Tuesday evening.
However, passengers reported that adequate bus services were not operated. Some waited until early morning and, with no buses arriving, staged road blockades. Police and officials who reached the spot held talks and later arranged alternative buses.
As buses, cars, private vehicles and two-wheelers from multiple districts hit the roads, severe traffic congestion built up at several points. Commuters said it took hours just to exit Chennai, and similar bottlenecks were seen in key towns along the route.
Traffic police presence was reportedly limited, with many personnel deployed for election-related duties, making it difficult to regulate the flow. Several travellers who left Chennai for Kanyakumari on Tuesday evening said they were still unable to reach home due to the jams, raising fears of missing their vote.
By 3 pm, the state recorded around 70% polling, but turnout was lower in southern districts. The report suggested that extending polling hours could help those delayed by travel disruptions. Many affected commuters have been posting videos on social media expressing concern about being unable to vote.
