For motorists taking the Chennai Bypass, driving is a nightmare.
The 32 km four-lane road that runs from Tambaram to Madhavaram has no lighting on many stretches and motorists have a harrowing time at night.
“There are no reflectors showing the edge of the road and there are points where the railing is broken. There are no sign boards at entry and exit points. People who know the stretch are able to drive through sheer experience, but first-timers struggle. Since the road surface is very bad, many two-wheeler riders skid and motorists coming from Porur, Ambattur and Puzhal often meet with accidents,” said Jude Mathew, a resident of Puzhal, who, along with several other residents, recently staged a protest at the toll plaza at Vanagaram.
He further said the toll plaza did not even have a complaint book for residents to record their grievances. “Rest rooms near the plazas damaged during Cyclone Vardah are yet to be rebuilt,” he added.
Consumer activist T. Sadagopan said the collection of toll fee should be suspended till the road is repaired and ready for use. “There are lots of thorny bushes at the entry and exit points and along service lanes as well, making it very unsafe for two-wheeler riders. There is hardly any lighting except for high mast lamps. The top surface of the road has been removed in many places but there is no warning of any sort about the work. When the road is in such a bad state, toll must not be collected,” he said.
Re-laying work
Sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which manages the road, said work to re-lay the stretch would be completed in a month. “As far as lighting is concerned, only the Chennai Corporation can install and maintain lights since the road is within their limits. It is common practice that lighting is taken care of by the respective local bodies,” an official said.
