Potholes and stones are the most common things that people have been encountering on roads since the rain battered Chennai. The Kilpauk Garden Road is no different. According to people who commute through the road frequently, the road has become worse since the rain.
“The condition is no different on other roads in the area. Some of the other roads in the area were relaid only a month or two before the rain. It has been a month since the rain and the relaid roads are also damaged. The Greater Chennai Corporation has done patchwork. It’s not enough,” says K. Kumar, an autorickshaw driver.
The road houses Kilpauk Cemetery, C.S.I. Redemeer’s Church, and a hospital. It is a residential area with a lot of shops catering to the needs of plant lovers. Over 10,000 vehicles ply daily on the road, which connects to Purasawalkam and Nungambakkam. People also go to the various schools on the stretch.
“The road was last relaid about two years ago. Since then, no other improvements have been made. It was not in a great condition but at least there were no potholes every two metres. The condition of the road causes damage to my vehicle,” says A. Baburaj, a mechanic, who has been running a shop on the street for the last 35 years.
Kilapuk Garden Road has lost its side-walks to years of neglect and to various establishments. Though there are a few portions that the pedestrians can still use, a large part of the stretch, which narrows at the signal, has given way to shops.
Damage to vehicles
“In the last few months, it has become difficult to travel through the road. For a two-wheeler rider, when a car is in front, it is difficult to gauge where the potholes might be. Experiencing this daily will definitely damage my vehicle and only increase my expenses,” says Nandhini R., a resident.
Many commuters also recount how navigating the potholes made them almost land in accidents. Recalling her experience, P. Rachna says, “It has been a hassle of late to travel through the road. No matter how careful you are, you will be surprised by a pothole. Many times, in an attempt to avoid a pothole, I almost fell. Other times, while travelling on a two-wheeler, I have to slam on the brakes, causing problems for vehicles behind me.”
Like her, Ms. Nandhini recalls how in an effort to avoid a pothole, she fell from her vehicle. “I was trying to avoid it and in a matter of seconds another vehicle overtook me, causing me to hit the pothole and fall from my two-wheeler.”
In December, the Greater Chennai Corporation prepared a plan to resume the relaying of about 2,200 roads in January and complete the work in a month as it was halted for the monsoon.
Councillor of Ward 101 Matilda Govindraj says, “The road will be relaid in a month. The tenders have been finalised, and the Corporation will begin relaying roads soon.”
