Citizen Connect: Maduravoyal bypass: Urban chaos at its worst tires residents, motorists

Residents in and around Maduravoyal are tired of complaining about the nightmarish commute on the main road because of the endless potholes and half-done expressway leading to the Chennai Port. This has been a major cause of concern for the growing population in the locality because it is unsafe and slows down traffic, they said.

Bharati S resides in one of the mammoth apartment complexes just off the main road and every time she takes an auto to get to the Koyambedu metro station, she grips her life in her hands. “I can barely see the road – it is just a bunch of rubble lying around in between dirt and dust. The auto rides take a toll on my back because that stretch is filled with potholes and to say it is in bad condition would be an understatement,” she said.

The owner of the flat she stays in, Anand Murthy, occupies another house in the same building. He added to his tenant’s woes by saying, “I bought these two flats four years ago when this construction had just been completed. Ever since, we have been complaining to various authorities about it and ranting on social media, but we haven’t seen any respite. I have to travel from Maduravoyal till Chetpet every day and by the time I get from the Clover flyover till Rohini theatre, it takes at least 45 minutes every morning.” By 8 pm, the truck and bus traffic heading outside the city makes things worse, he adds.

For those who drive two-wheelers, the road is a virtual death trap. “If one water tanker that’s leaking passes through the main road, or if it rains even for five minutes, puddles form in the potholes and it’s very difficult to gauge where the bike may land. I have skidded and fallen down a number of times, but thankfully nothing severe has happened yet,” said Hari Prasath, who studies in a college in the vicinity.

Six months ago, when contacted, Municipality Executive Officer D Gunasekaran said that they were aware of the condition of the road and would take action.

“We are preparing estimations for the repair and will take necessary steps to fix the road soon,” he said. However, the commuters haven’t seen any respite to date. The office was contacted yet again, only to receive the same reply.