Motorists, pedestrians in a fix due to non-restoration of pavement on Sterling Road

The busy Sterling Road in Nungambakkam is a difficult stretch for motorists and pedestrians as the Greater Chennai Corporation has failed to restore the pavement even after completing stormwater drain works in the area.

“There were a few encroachments, but even then, the footpath was in good condition until the civic body moved in to reconstruct the stormwater drain. They did not repair the pavement and we are forced to walk on the stormwater drain instead, which is uneven,” Rajkumar, a private employee, said. 

He added that during the peak hours, pedestrians find it difficult to find the space to walk as several two-wheelers ride on the platform to avoid the traffic congestion on the road.

When DT Next visited the spot, the pavement on the south side appeared to be in a relatively good condition as the stormwater drain works were carried out on the northern end. The surface of the pedestrian path, however, was uneven with mud covering it at several spots.

“There is a tea shop on the pavement which obstructs movement. The civic body should restore the pavement. A few years ago, the civic body had made changes to the pavement to prevent motorists from riding there,” Rajkumar said.

The civic body is also yet to repair the road after constructing the stormwater drain. Most part of the road – especially near the pavement – has a lot of potholes.

A motorist, who was riding on the pavement, said that he had to use the pavement as theroad is damaged.

“Usually, two-wheelers are forced to the extreme left of the road as cars take a majority portion of the road. But the road is filled with potholes, making it difficult to ride. On the other hand, riding on the platform is easy and helps to avoid traffic. If the road is in good condition, I will not ride on the pavement,” the motorist said.

Also, the bitumen layer on the road near College Road Junction has come off due to the recent rains and has become a reason fortraffic jams.

When asked about the issue, a Corporation official said that the civic body usually would take up road repair works after the completion of the monsoon. “Pedestrian pavement and the road will be repaired after the rains,” he added.