The TNRDC has called four tenders worth around ₹40 crore. It will repair service lanes and correct road level.
| Photo Credit: SRINATH M.
In a move that could bring some relief to motorists and pedestrians, the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) will soon re-lay portions of the Rajiv Gandhi Salai.
Around five km of the road, which will be handed over to the TNRDC on completion of works by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), will be repaired before the end of September, TNRDC officials said.
The road will be fully re-laid once the rest of it is handed over to the TNRDC after one-and-a-half years.
“Of the 17 km, we are regaining only 4.8 km, that too in stretches. We have called four tenders worth around ₹40 crore. We will repair the service lanes, place kerbstones [to separate the main road from service lanes] wherever required, and correct the road level. We will also ensure that rainwater flows into the drains, an official said.
‘Potholes everywhere’
B. Narayanan, a resident of Sholinganallur, said that two-wheeler riders were increasingly finding it difficult to travel on OMR.
“I have developed a backache. This is because there are potholes all over the road, and the rest of it is badly patched up. There is no way that one can avoid these. Very few sections have been re-laid or repaired,” he said.
Accidents have become very common due to the lack of kerb stones, say motorists.
“Two nights ago, a car overturned at the SRP Tools junction. From what could be seen, the car’s wheel had accidentally hit the raised portion on the side of the road. The accident had caused a huge traffic jam. Large potholes have been repaired using steel frames that cause accidents. Some are broken and are unable to hold the weight of heavy vehicles,” said Kannan Bhakta, a resident of Thoraipakkam.
Published – August 16, 2025 01:13 am IST
