Citizen Connect: Pothole-ridden Mettu Street and irregular garbage collection rile residents, motorists

Motorists and pedestrians using Mettu Street behind Villivakkam bus terminus are facing a double whammy — indiscriminate dumping of garbage on the roadside and repeated digging of roads resulting in potholes.

The rear side of the terminus has become a dumping area for waste such as dry leaves, coconut shells. Opened in March 1979, it is said to be one of the oldest bus termini. The facility is located at the centre of the neighbourhood and also connects to the crucial CTH Road, benefitting hundreds of commuters from South High Court Colony, Thiru Nagar, TNHB Colony, South Thirumalai Nagar and SIDCO Nagar.

At present, 92 trips to different parts of the city are operated from the terminus. In addition, two small buses to Puthur and Perambur also run from the terminus. “Due to the foul smell from the garbage, pedestrians find it difficult to use Mettu Street to reach the market and bus terminus,” said K Ganga, a commuter from Villivakkam.

Many small trenches across Mettu Street, which were dug to connect individual sewer connection to the manhole, have not been relaid. During rains, the stretch gets inundated. Besides, hundreds of people visit the multiplex located on the narrow lane every day. Sometimes motorists who want to avoid congested Reddy Street that connects the bus terminus to the Konnur High Road take Mettu Street.

Kumaresan, a watchman at a marriage hall in the area, said that conservancy workers only remove garbage dumped on the roadside bins and do not clean those spilt around it. Towards making streets bin-less, many roadside bins have been removed from the neighbourhood and waste is collected from every household. However, sometimes irregular garbage collection makes people litter on the roads. Due to this, a portion of Mettu Street has become a dump yard with stray dogs and cattle feeding on them, Kumaresan said.

When contacted, a Greater Chennai Corporation official said, “Steps would be taken to remove garbage from the stretch.” Damaged interior streets and Mettu Street would also be re-laid soon, the official added.