Corporation's apathy towards damaged road for several months irks motorists in Trustpuram

The road connects the Arcot Road in Kodambakkam and Vanniyar Street in Choolaimedu. It is a short cut to Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, Nelson Manickam Road apart from other major interior roads.

“I use the road every day to reach office. Even though other roads are in better condition, the officials remain indifferent to the Puliyur Main Road,” S Kumar, a motorist said. When DT Next visited the spot, the road was in a poor condition at many spots. Speed breakers on the road were also seen damaged, apart from unattended road cuts.

According to the Greater Chennai Corporation, the Service Departments have to get permission to make any road cuts in bus route roads or interior roads. They have to remit the necessary restoration charges, too. One of the major problems faced by motorists is the frequent road cuts made by several service departments such as CMWSSB, TNEB, BSNL, Private Communication Providers, etc. Even if such road cuts are restored immediately, it does not uniformly match with the existing road surface.

“We have been demanding the Greater Chennai Corporation officials to relay the road or at least repair the damaged portion. However, the officials do not act on it. Near Vanniyar Street junction, the top layer of the road has completely peeled off,” a resident, on the condition of anonymity, said.

Apart from Puliyur Main Road, Vanniyar Street is also in a similar condition, where unattended road cuts are rife. The resident added that the major reason for the damages on both the roads are due to road cuts. “Official should act immediately and repair the road cuts. Water seepage through them damage the roads.”

When contacted, a Greater Chennai Corporation official said that the civic body has taken up relaying of all the streets in Trustpuram and nearby areas. “The road will be relayed after the election process completes,” the official said. In addition to the damaged road, a garbage bin kept almost in the middle of the road is also a threat to the public. “Majority of the residents of the locality are from middle-income families. Streets are neat near Kodambakkam side of the Puliyur Main Road, where upper-class families reside, while it is poorly maintained on Choolaimedu side,” a resident said.