The important roads and flyovers in Chennai have become busy after many days of remaining deserted in the wake of the complete lockdown in the city to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. After the intense lockdown marked its end on Sunday and with no extension from the government, Chennai has seen more vehicles plying on the road on Monday which led to having traffic jams in some of the important roads. 

After remaining locked up in their residences during the tenure of the enhanced lockdown that ran from June 19 to July 5, the office goers and people associated with different sectors had hit the road to reach their workplaces as several vehicles including cars, two-wheelers, and autorickshaws were seen on the roads amid the general lockdown and curfew that have been in effect.

According to the reports, over 400 signals were operated on Monday in Chennai to regulate the traffic and movement of the vehicle and along with that, additional police personnel has been deployed in the areas and signals which are predicted to have the movements of more vehicles.

The city's traffic police department had removed the barricades that were installed on the roads and flyovers to block the movements of the vehicles. The cabs remain operative with restrictions so are the autorickshaws. The traffic police personnel deployed on the ground had checked the riders if they stick to the guidelines of wearing facemasks.

People who were seen without masks were barricaded and the police booked the violators under section 179 - wilfully disobeys the direction under Motor Vehicles Act. The police personnel had stopped the two-wheelers with pillion riders as the pillion riding has strictly been barred owing to maintain physical distancing. 

As the complete lockdown is over, obtaining of e-pass from the Chennai Corporation to travel within the city is not mandatory. Important roads like Anna Salai, Rajiv Gandhi Road, Poonamalle High Road, Nungambakkam High Road, Adyar, and the flyovers were filled with vehicles. Along with easing the lockdown, the government has also permitted the resumption of supermarkets and textile shops in the city.

These establishments were opened on Monday in Chennai amid the COVID-19 spread. Chennai Police Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal has, on Sunday, appealed to people to refrain from exiting their homes unnecessarily to mitigate the spread of the pandemic.