Please mind the gap | Damaged roads and delayed repairs spark concerns as Chennai Corporation plans to relay over 3,600 stretches

A portion of damaged and uneven road on 29th Cross Street in Indira Nagar.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ

Navigating the massive potholes on T.P.P. Road-Burma Nagar Link Road is a daily ordeal for M. Kamala Kannan of Manali, who rides his two-wheeler on the battered stretch.

Mr. Kannan, a member of the Makkal Needhi Maiam, said the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) patched up the central portion of the road in May 2023, after work to build an underground drainage (UGD) was completed. “Last year, the stretch was battered by rain, and heavy vehicles using it frequently only worsened the damage. This is the case for many roads in Manali zone. Officials need to inspect these roads immediately,” he said.

Meanwhile, it has been a back-breaking experience for Krishna Kumar to travel across Indira Nagar in Adyar zone, including on 28th and 29th Cross Streets, which have been damaged owing to UGD-laying work. “The roads were last relayed five years ago. In some streets, they were patched up after the UGD was completed, but these portions are uneven. This is particularly risky for the elderly since they are forced to walk on the carriageway as vehicles are parked on the pavements,” he said.

A resident of Old Washermenpet questioned the delay in completing the work, which has been going on for over a year on MC Road near the entrance of the Stanley Medical College and Hospital. He also raised concern over incomplete and temporary repairs carried out on stretches ahead of the monsoon. He alleged that Ibrahim Sahib Street in Mannady had remained damaged for over three months.

The pothole-ridden T.P.P. Road-Burma Nagar Link Road in Manali.
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Raghukumar Choodamani of the Perambur Neighbourhood Forum said Patel Road was relaid before the Lok Sabha poll last year, but was dug up again to provide connections by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. “Government departments must coordinate among themselves to avoid digging up roads frequently,” he said.

GCC Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran said the civic body planned to relay 3,611 roads. “Tenders have been floated for 50% of the works. Appraisal is in progress by third-party agencies for the remaining. Tenders for the rest will be floated in two weeks. The work will commence in May.”

GCC officials said the digging up of roads could not be avoided due to new infrastructure developments. Of the 3,611 roads planned to be relaid, 1,329 are being redone owing to road cuts by government departments, including the CMWSSB, and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), they said.

A senior official in the GCC said there were new UGD lines being laid in Mannady, after which the roads would be relaid. “All damage due to weather or heavy vehicles will be attended to immediately. The relaying of 15,754 of the 16,065 roads taken up in the last four years have been completed so far. The remaining, along with the new proposals, will be done before the monsoon sets in,” he said.

“For roadworks this fiscal, ₹60 crore has been allocated under the Nagarpura Salai Membattu Thittam (NSMT), while ₹150 crore will be spent under the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Fund (TURIF). Under the GCC’s own funds, ₹96 crore has been allotted,” an official said.

R. Jayaraman, ward 4 councillor, said roadwork was grouped into large packages based on regions, which were then awarded to “big-time” contractors — those with substantial financial resources to handle such large projects. This leads to frequent damage due to improper relaying of roads and delays, as contractors are pressured into completing extensive work on tight deadlines, he added.

He said the relaying of Thiruveethi Amman Koil 5th Street in Ernavoor in his ward was tendered last year but was yet to be completed. “The region-based roadwork package system was introduced during the AIADMK regime. During the previous DMK regime, road relaying was tendered on a ward-wise basis, which was simpler and resulted in fewer complaints about quality,” Mr. Jayaraman added.

N. Chitrarasu, Chairman, Standing Committee (Works), said road projects were awarded in large packages because only contractors with the necessary milling and paving equipment were eligible for the work. “Small-time contractors may not possess the required machinery, which can lead to further complications,” he added. If any issues arise, the relevant contractors are held accountable and will face penalties or even be blacklisted, he said.

GCC’s Phase 1 road relaying plans