Citizen Connect: Slush on road, stench in air: Poomagal Main Road remains in a state of neglect

There have only been short spells of rain, but that was enough to leave the Poomagal Main Road in Ekkaduthangal dotted with puddles, making the stretch a difficult one to negotiate for the motorists, especially those on two-wheelers, and also the pedestrians.

Despite the neighbourhood being surrounding by scores of IT companies and thus attracts a large number of people and vehicles, the area is being maintained rather poorly, rue the residents here.

The road was dug up several times for constructing storm water drains and also for the work undertaken by the Electricity Department. Though it was re-laid after the works were completed, it left the road with a lot of puddles, complained K Abhishek, a resident of Poomagal Main Road. “Overflowing sewage water gets collected in these puddles, and the recent rains have only worsened the condition of the road,” he said.

If it is the rainwater that floods the road after even brief showers that irks the motorists, the pedestrians are troubled by the garbage that is accumulated on either sides of the road which makes it difficult for them to walk through. The trouble with waste is caused by the absence of dustbins, say local residents.

“The puddles filled with garbage on the main road not only makes the area filthy but also serves as the breeding ground for the mosquitoes. It can cause variousmosquito-borne diseases,” said Divya, another resident of the locality.

According to the residents, the issue of sewage overflow on to the road from the neighbourhood is a constant one. This is made worse on every rainy day when garbage and sewage get mixed on the stretch, troubling motorists and pedestrians alike.

“It is not just the road but also the drainage in the neighbourhood needs to be taken care of. The storm water drains need to be cleared, as they are filled with trash. Then the maintenance of the road can be carried out. Despite relaying the road twice, there were potholes within a month because of the continuous flow of sewage water,” said Prakash, a resident of the Poomagal Road Second Street. 

Residents complained that the authorities were aware of the problem they have been facing, but have not come forward to resolve it. When contacted, civic body officials said that the maintenance of the road would be carried out after the rains were over. They added that the drainage system would also be checked to prevent causing damage to the road.