The attempt to solve the problem of repeated sewage overflows at Valluvarkottam High Road has resulted in damage to the well-laid bitumen-topped stretch.
Valluvarkottam High Road is an arterial stretch connecting Nungambakkam to T. Nagar and Kodambakkam. As a result, the area witnesses heavy traffic round the clock.
Those who take the Valluvarkottam High Road, close to Velayudham Street, dread the ride due to the poor condition of the road.
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“Earlier, there was a drainage problem on the stretch. The water would overflow from the drain and muck the road. This would make it very difficult for pedestrians to walk. The stretch that leads to the signal is particularly narrow and a hindrance like this makes things worse. The drainage problem continued for months,” says K. Panannivel, a motorist. He adds that though the drainage problem seemed to have been set right, problems faced by motorists have not ended.
S. Ravi, a security guard stationed at a bank on the stretch, says the road has been dug to rectify the sewage problem, but has not been re-laid.
“Two months ago, they dug the road for repairs. Though the drain doesn’t overflow now, the road has become uneven and bumpy. The traffic usually slows down here causing congestion,” he says.
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Due to this, it takes a minimum of 10 minutes to cross the signal. During the rush hour, the situation worsens. “If this small patch of the road is re-laid, it would ease traffic flow. Moreover, the pedestrians will also be benefitted,” says a motorist.