Morning update · 23 September 2026
The new U-turn bans are in force from this morning. The first peak has already produced a huge ruckus around Geetham — more daily discomfort for OMR commuters, not less congestion.
New U-turn bans on Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) took effect this morning, 23 September 2026, and jammed Geetham and Thoraipakkam. Together with last month's Medavakkam traffic diversion through the ELCOT zone, the recent route changes have clearly created great discomfort for daily OMR commuters.
Ground report · This morning
New arrangement, huge jam
CHENNAI / OMR — The Greater Chennai Traffic Police U-turn changes began this morning. On the ground, the first working-day peak did not settle the corridor. Commuters on Rajiv Gandhi Salai report a large ruckus around Geetham, Thuraipakkam and the approach to Perungudi Toll Plaza.
Drivers who normally flipped at Geetham, Seevaram or World Trade Centre are now being sent further along the main road. That extra through-movement is stacking cars on the same carriageway IT-park traffic already uses. Allow extra time if you cross this stretch today.
Police said the rules were meant to reduce congestion. The first morning suggests the opposite until motorists learn the new U-turn and on-ground signage is clearer. By late morning, several netizens were already posting photos and complaints about the jam.
This is not the only recent forced detour on south OMR. Last month, outgoing vehicles from the Medavakkam / Perumbakkam side were already taken off Sholinganallur junction and sent through the ELCOT zone instead of flowing straight onto Rajiv Gandhi Salai.
Geetham on OMR, where the banned U-turn sat and where this morning’s jam built up. Open in Google Maps →
From 23 September 2026, motorists on Rajiv Gandhi Salai cannot take the usual U-turns near Geetham Restaurant, Seevaram or World Trade Centre if they are heading toward Sholinganallur or SRP Tools. The official alternate is the U-turn at Perungudi Toll Plaza.
Chennai · 23 September 2026, updated late morning — By MyOMR Editorial Team
What netizens are posting
The chaos is already on X. The first two posts are same-morning OMR photos, including one tagging Greater Chennai Corporation. The third is a same-day complaint about U-turn management at the Adyar Cancer Institute signal — a different junction, but the same method that commuters say is stacking cars on the main road. The fourth, posted the evening before the new OMR rules, says long diversions add kilometres and fuel cost, and that adding U-turns is Plan B for Chennai traffic police.
OMR this morning
OMR Traffic pic.twitter.com/vvrmYq6Qzr
— Praveen kumar (@prvn_offl) September 23, 2026
If the embed does not load: view @prvn_offl on X.
Diversion made worse
New traffic diversion made even worse. @chennaicorp pic.twitter.com/4UFRUMNOVH
— lifeofaphotographer (@sharathkumar13) September 23, 2026
If the embed does not load: view @sharathkumar13 on X.
Same-day U-turn complaint
U turn traffic management implemented at Adyar Cancer institute signa will also have more wrong side driving now.
— Reclaim Chennai streets (@reclaimchennai) September 23, 2026
U turn traffic management is a curse for urban traffic management, but thanks to our clueless traffic police and traffic planners, we will continue to suffer https://t.co/1LVwjSNzOP
If the embed does not load: view @reclaimchennai on X.
Eve of the U-turn ban
If you can’t manage traffic, introducing diversions which run to kms and adding to fuel expenses, is the best way out for Chennai traffic police. If not adding U turns is Plan B. https://t.co/FqMX7F7Cp5
— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) September 22, 2026
If the embed does not load: view @venkatatweets on X.
What changed
1 Toward Sholinganallur from Mettukuppam / Pillayar Kovil Street
No U-turn near Geetham Restaurant. Continue to Perungudi Toll Plaza, U-turn there, then go toward Sholinganallur.
2 Toward Sholinganallur from 200 Feet Radial Road
No U-turn near Seevaram (spelled Srivaram in the police notice). Continue to Perungudi Toll Plaza, U-turn there, then go toward Sholinganallur.
3 Toward SRP Tools from Kandanchavadi
No U-turn near World Trade Centre. Continue to Perungudi Toll Plaza, U-turn there, then go toward SRP Tools.
4 Toward 200 Feet Radial Road from Perungudi / Seevaram
U-turn near Geetham Restaurant remains allowed. Proceed toward the 200 Feet Radial Road as usual.
Previous change: Medavakkam traffic sent through ELCOT
Before today’s Geetham / Seevaram / WTC U-turn bans, south OMR already had a major diversion on the Medavakkam–Sholinganallur road. From 15 to 29 August 2026, Tambaram City Police took outgoing vehicles off Sholinganallur junction and routed them through the ELCOT SEZ zone so Highways could build a macro drain from Sholinganallur marsh to the Buckingham Canal. The change covered all public traffic, including MTC buses (The Hindu; Thanthi TV).
Official route for vehicles coming from Perumbakkam Semmozhi Salai toward OMR, instead of crossing Sholinganallur junction:
- Continue toward HCL, then to ELCOT SEZ Junction
- Turn left onto the ELCOT SEZ internal road
- Turn right toward OMR and rejoin at TCS Junction (Dinamalar also noted a U-turn near the TCS stretch before joining Rajiv Gandhi Salai)
That is why Medavakkam-side outgoing traffic no longer simply flowed through Sholinganallur junction. Today’s Thoraipakkam U-turn bans add a second forced movement on the same IT corridor: cars that used to flip at Geetham are now being pushed to Perungudi Toll Plaza.
ELCOT SEZ, Sholinganallur — the internal-road zone used for the August diversion. Open Medavakkam → ELCOT → TCS / OMR directions →
The police notice for that change was issued as a 15-day temporary diversion. Follow on-ground boards if any part of the ELCOT routing is still signed.
Map of this morning’s stretch
The route below follows Old Mahabalipuram Road past Geetham — the pocket that jammed first this morning. The interactive map further down marks Perungudi Toll Plaza, the new common U-turn.
Interactive map — new U-turn point
The marker is Perungudi (Seevaram) Toll Plaza. Geetham is south of the toll; WTC and Kandanchavadi are to the north.
Interactive map via OpenStreetMap. Marker: Perungudi / Seevaram Toll Plaza. Open full map →
Open directions in Google Maps
Tap a card to launch driving directions. Follow traffic police on the ground if a junction is already signed.
Pin the landmarks
- This morning’s first peak already jammed the Geetham–Thoraipakkam stretch. Leave earlier than usual.
- Do not attempt a banned U-turn even if the median looks clear — that is what piled cars onto the main road.
- Sholinganallur- or SRP Tools-bound? Continue to Perungudi Toll Plaza and U-turn there.
- Coming from Medavakkam / Perumbakkam toward OMR? Last month’s signed route was Semmozhi Salai → HCL → ELCOT internal road → TCS junction, not straight through Sholinganallur junction.
- Share this page with anyone who uses Geetham, WTC, the 200 Feet Radial Road or the Medavakkam–Sholinganallur road daily.
Bottom line for daily OMR commuters
The recent traffic route changes have clearly created great discomfort for the daily commuters of OMR. This morning’s U-turn bans at Geetham, Seevaram and World Trade Centre forced extra through-traffic onto the same carriageway. That sits on top of last month’s Medavakkam–Sholinganallur diversion through the ELCOT zone, which already took outgoing vehicles off Sholinganallur junction.
Office hours on this corridor were already long. Longer loops, new U-turn points and unclear first-day signage have made the ordinary home-to-IT-park trip harder. Police have asked for cooperation. Commuters deserve a review if the new arrangement keeps stacking the main road instead of easing it.
Frequently asked questions
From when are the OMR U-turn restrictions in force?
The Greater Chennai Traffic Police notice takes effect from 23 September 2026 on Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) and in the Thuraipakkam area. No end date was announced; follow on-ground police directions.
Where should I take a U-turn instead of Geetham, Seevaram or WTC?
Use the U-turn at Perungudi Toll Plaza (Seevaram Toll). That is the official alternate for vehicles going toward Sholinganallur from Mettukuppam, Pillayar Kovil Street or 200 Feet Radial Road, and for vehicles going toward SRP Tools from Kandanchavadi.
Can I still take a U-turn near Geetham Restaurant?
Only if you are going toward the 200 Feet Radial Road from the Perungudi and Seevaram side. U-turns at Geetham are prohibited for vehicles coming from Mettukuppam or Pillayar Kovil Street toward Sholinganallur.
Which OMR stretch is affected?
The rules cover Rajiv Gandhi Salai between Kandanchavadi / World Trade Centre, Perungudi Toll Plaza, Geetham Restaurant in Thoraipakkam, and the 200 Feet Radial Road junction. Sholinganallur-bound and SRP Tools-bound U-turns are the main change.
Did the new U-turn rules cause traffic this morning?
Yes. On the first morning, 23 September 2026, commuters reported a huge ruckus on the Thoraipakkam–Perungudi OMR stretch. Vehicles that usually U-turned at Geetham, Seevaram or WTC were forced onward to Perungudi Toll Plaza, stacking peak-hour traffic on the main carriageway.
Are people already posting about the OMR U-turn chaos?
Yes. By late morning on 23 September 2026, posts on X included OMR traffic photos from Praveen Kumar (@prvn_offl) and Sharath Kumar (@sharathkumar13, tagging Greater Chennai Corporation), plus a same-day critique of U-turn management from Reclaim Chennai streets (@reclaimchennai). The previous evening, Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) wrote that long diversions add fuel cost and that adding U-turns is Plan B for Chennai traffic police.
Was Medavakkam traffic already diverted away from Sholinganallur junction?
Yes. From 15 to 29 August 2026, Tambaram City Police diverted outgoing vehicles from the Perumbakkam / Medavakkam side (Semmozhi Salai) away from Sholinganallur junction and through the ELCOT SEZ zone: HCL, left onto the ELCOT internal road, then to the TCS junction on OMR, while Highways built a marsh-to-Buckingham Canal drain.
Have the recent OMR route changes made daily commuting worse?
Yes. This morning's U-turn bans at Geetham, Seevaram and WTC, on top of last month's Medavakkam–Sholinganallur diversion through ELCOT, have clearly created great discomfort for daily commuters of OMR. Longer loops are stacking peak-hour traffic on the same IT corridor.
Sources: Greater Chennai Traffic Police public notice, effective 23 September 2026; MyOMR ground report from the Thoraipakkam–Geetham stretch on the first morning; public posts on X by @prvn_offl, @sharathkumar13, @reclaimchennai and @venkatatweets, 22–23 September 2026; The Hindu, Dinamalar and Thanthi TV on the 15–29 August 2026 Sholinganallur junction / ELCOT diversion. We will update this page if police change the routes or the jam eases.
