The recent spells of rain have exposed the shoddy road work on Whenners Road in Egmore, as most of the bitumen coating has washed away. With the rear entrance of the Egmore railway station located on this stretch, hundreds of commuters pass through Whenners Road every day and it is also a key MTC bus route. Undoubtedly, they are suffering the most on account of the potholes.
“Walking on this road, especially at night, is a risk as we are unable to spot the potholes in the dim lighting. The damage is greater near its intersection with Poonamallee High Road. Even a light shower is enough to flood this stretch. Senior citizens and women are having the worst walking experience,” says 62-year-old K. Vasudevan, a commuter from West Mambalam.
CHENNAI, 02/10/2019: For Downtown: Potholed rising motorists and pedestrians at the back side entrance of Egmore Railway Station on Wednesday. Photo: R. Ragu / The Hindu
Pedestrians are the most affected as the pavements on Whenner Road have been encroached upon by petty shops and abandoned vehicles, forcing them to walk on the carriageway.
As per norms, routine repair works on the roads within Greater Chennai Corporation limits should be done between August and September every year before the onset of the northeast monsoon. However, no repair work has been done on Whenners Road in Egmore for the past few years. However, a Corporation official promised to inspect the road and take steps to mend the damaged portions.
Some of the key public utilities that are located in this area are the rear entrance of Egmore railway station, Southern Railway parking lot, St. Andrew’s Church, bus terminus and pre-paid autorickshaw stand.
The stretch is also a key link route for petitioners visiting the Chennai Police Commissioner’s office, which is located across the Poonamallee High Road.
