Work on providing Under Ground Drainage (UGD) connections to residents of localities on Mudichur Road in West Tambaram is progressing at a tardy pace. For a good distance, this road has become narrow due to this work, making it difficult for motorists, especially during rush hour. The Tambaram Municipality dug up the road six months ago. As the work has not been completed, it remains that way. A stretch of this road — from the intersection of Kakkan Street and Mudichur Road to Lakshmipuram — is extremely bad.
Mudichur Road provides quick access to Mudichur, Manimangalam, Mannivakkam, Varadharajapuram, Old Perungalathur, Padapai, Vandalur, Thiruneermalai, Walajabad, and Sriperumbudur.
As a result, a large number of motorists continue to take this road, skirting around the potholed spots on the way. The movement of heavy vehicles is a common sight on this stretch — and this factor contributes to the deterioration of the already battered road and congestion.
“Walking on the stretch comes with a high-risk factor. Hundreds of private company buses, from Wallajabad and Oragadam, ply through the stretch. As there are no footpaths for pedestrians, they have to share the carriageway with these buses. A few commercial establishments have eaten into the road space. Open stormwater drains and mounds of garbage add to the problem of a constricted roadway,” S. Vidya, a resident, said.
Residents say that the work should have been started immediately after the encroachments were removed and the stretch widened. Official sources with the Tambaram Municipality said permission was obtained from the State Highways Department before commencement of the work. More than 50% of the work has been completed and the rest will be completed before the onset of northeast monsoon.
