Residents complain about rising risk of accidents owing to delay in road restoration

Owing to a delay in restoration of roads dug up for sewer network connection in various zones of the city, residents have complained that the risk of road traffic accidents has been rising.

C. Balaji of Udhayam Colony said residents had complained to civic authorities because of frequent incidents of minor collisions between motorists on Anna Nagar 18th Main Road. “The accidents are caused because of the eight-month delay in restoration of the road after the stretch was dug up. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and other agencies should intervene before a major accident occurs on the stretch. It is a bus route. Many schoolchildren also use the road,” he added.

Ward 104 councillor T.V. Shemmozhi said the contractor had reportedly restored the stretch after digging up the road, and the layer was damaged owing to movement of vehicles. “Ten roads have been damaged in the area. Residents have demanded that the damaged roads be restored,” he added.

Ward 35 councillor S. Jeevan said residents had asked him to speak about the civic issue during the GCC Council meeting a few months ago after accidents were reported in several areas. “During the Council meeting in May, I raised the civic issues pertaining to shoddy work by contractors who were responsible for restoration of the dug-up roads. Meetings were held following complaints by residents. The officials assured us that the stretches will be restored. But it is yet to begin. Will the contractors be held responsible?” he asked.

Residents pointed to a road accident involving a mother and her child at the junction of Tiruvottiyur High Road and Kauvery Road because of a damaged stretch that was not restored properly. Angry residents have also filed a police complaint after the incident. GCC and various line agencies have been exploring the feasibility of resolving the issue following the complaints. Meetings have been held in this regard in all the 15 zones. However, owing to recent rain, the damaged stretches have deteriorated, leading to a rise in the number of complaints.

GCC officials said the work on restoration of 3000 damaged roads will be completed before August 15 in all the zones of the city.