"The history of road transport in Madras, now Chennai, is deeply intertwined with the city's colonial past and its evolving urban fabric. The city's most iconic road, Anna Salai—formerly known as Mount Road—originated as a simple cart track connecting Fort St. George to St. Thomas Mount in the 18th century, serving military and trade purposes.
This route, vital for troop movements and supply transport, gradually evolved into a bustling commercial corridor as British influence expanded.
The construction of the Marmalong Bridge in 1726 by Armenian merchant Coja Petrus Uscan over the Adyar River significantly improved connectivity and facilitated the road’s southward expansion.
The city’s public transport system began with horse-drawn trams, with the Madras Tramway Company being formed in London in 1885 with a capital of £185,000 to lay 18 miles of tramway.
Although initial plans favored steam power, the Commissioners of the Corporation objected, leading to the use of horses instead.
The first tram service began in 1895, marking the launch of India’s first electric tram system, which operated using underground cable and later pantograph technology.
The Madras Electric Tramway Company was established in 1892, and by 1904, the service stabilized under the name Madras Electric Tramways (MET).
The tram network expanded to cover 26 miles by 1924, serving both passengers and goods between docks and inland areas.
Despite its initial popularity and role as a major transit artery, the tram system faced persistent challenges, including conflicts between private ownership and municipal authorities, as well as periodic strikes.
The rise of motor buses, initially introduced by the Madras Tramway Corporation during a 1925 strike, marked a turning point.
Although the bus service was discontinued in 1928 after trams resumed, private operators soon revived it, and by 1946, around 200 private buses were operating in the city.
The government began its own bus service in 1947, and by 1948, all bus transport was nationalized under the Transport Department, later evolving into the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.
The tram system continued to operate until its closure on April 11, 1953, leaving 1,650 workers jobless.
The legacy of the tramways lives on in the city’s infrastructure and collective memory, with the first underground line of the Chennai Metro Rail now running parallel to Anna Salai, continuing the road’s role as a vital transit corridor.
The evolution from bullock carts and horse-drawn trams to electric trams, buses, and the modern metro reflects the city’s dynamic growth and its enduring need for efficient urban mobility."