Chennai Corporation to repair speed breakers, install caution boards

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has planned repair of speed breakers, thermoplastic road marking works, installation of caution boards, and traffic improvement works across zones II to XV of the city. The civic body has floated tenders for the works, for a total estimated cost of ₹8.73 crore.

Jayakumar, an autorickshaw driver, said several speed breakers in the city were in poor condition, with some of the most dangerous located near schools, including on P.T. Rajan Road and near a private school in K.K. Nagar. He said that an unmarked speed breaker on Cart Track Road near a bend had caused many accidents. Unmarked humps are problematic, especially at night and during rains, but even key spots like T.T.K Road do not have painted speedbreakers, he added.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic-South) P. Vijayakumar said lack of proper speed breakers, painted humps, and signage had been flagged in the last two multi-department meetings with civic bodies, including the GCC and the Highways Department. “Whenever there are road cuts, speed breakers and signages are removed and need to be reinstalled. Hence, setting up such facilities cannot be a one-time exercise and need to be done all year round to avoid fatalities due to road accidents. This year, fatalities are lower, roughly 480, compared to last year when it was over 500. Yet, to reduce the issues further, road conditions and markings need to be improved,” he said.

He added that some speed breakers installed earlier as a piecemeal measure to address local complaints will have to be modified to comply with Indian Roads Congress rules. “This means signages to indicate school zones, lane crossing, lane changeover and other such alerts need to be put up,” he said. He also said a survey to assess the required facilities was necessary and that the police would ensure coordination.

The Chennai Corporation floated tenders covering Manali (₹38 lakh), Madhavaram (₹57 lakh), Tondiarpet (₹37 lakh), Royapuram (₹28 lakh), Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar (₹40 lakh), Ambattur (₹52 lakh), Anna Nagar (₹96 lakh), Teynampet (₹97 lakh), Kodambakkam (₹85 lakh), Valasaravakkam (₹51 lakh), Alandur (₹10 lakh), Adyar (₹93 lakh), Perungudi (₹92 lakh), and Sholinganallur (₹97 lakh) zones.

When asked about a survey to audit faulty speed breakers, civic officials said several projects have been delayed due to the Special Intensive Revision related to the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2026, and that the audit was under way and being addressed from time to time.