The continuous seepage of water inside the Thillai Ganga Nagar and Pazhavanthangal vehicular subways makes driving difficult for motorcyclists.
The Thillai Ganga Nagar subway was constructed at a cost of Rs. 10 crore nearly a decade ago.
Nearly 500-m long, the subway connects Velachery, Grand Southern Trunk Road and Nanganallur. Motorists have urged the State Highways Department to carry out repair works as early as possible.
“Right from the construction work of the Thillai Ganga Nagar subway, water seepage posed a hazard to motorists and cyclists. The edge walls of the subway used to ooze with water.
In 2011, the State Highways Department spent Rs.97 lakh to arrest the seepage of water, which was believed to be the result of improper grouting. During rains, the subway becomes a pool of water.
The road surface in the subways turns slippery even after a short spell and poor visibility is a major problem. Misty conditions in the evening have contributed to a few accidents,” V. Rama Rao, a resident of Nanganallur and a social activist, said. Another problem is the curve at the end of the flyover (towards Ullagaram and Puzhuthivakkam). Due to poor lighting, vehicle users fail to notice the curve, resulting in accidents.
“There are reports that the State Highways Department is going to spend another Rs. 50 lakh for grouting and improving the lighting facility. In 2011, a huge amount was spent to rectify the problem, but the exercise did not achieve its objectives. The Highways department should consult experts before carrying such repair works,” he pointed out.
“The dilapidated subway beneath the Pazhavanthangal railway station and a portion of the overhead railway tracks between Pazhavanthangal and St. Thomas Mount on Southern Sector Inner Ring Road are a cause for concern. The vehicular pathways were damaged in the recent monsoon. They have not been re-laid. Not even patchwork has been carried out on them,” V. Subramanian, a resident of Nanganallur, said.
“Every monsoon, the subways will be water-logged, loosening the tiled (broken) surface, thereby causing wide gaps. This may be dangerous, especially for motorcyclists, as they can skid on these patches,” R. Sai Suresh, a motorist, said.
“Several motorists lose their balance on the tiled surface and suffer minor injuries,” Sunita Ramaswamy, a resident, said.
