With some of the roads frequented by AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa’s convoy seemingly getting a makeover all of a sudden on Friday, motorists voiced concern about the slow pace of work on other roads .
Motorists who were restricted to a potholed stretch of Walajah Road pointed to the contrast between two lanes of the road. One lane where banners sprung up in anticipation of convoy movement received a fresh coat of bitumen, concrete and paint. The other lane remained pothole ridden.
Similarly stretches such as Sardar Patel Road, Avvai Shanmugam Salai, TTK Road, Kamarajar Salai and Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai received a partial makeover. The Chennai Corporation restored medians, planted greenery, repaired footpaths and patched up the carriageway.
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When contacted, Chennai Corporation officials said most of the work carried out on Friday was part of the ongoing project to relay 194 bus routes.
“We started work on Walajah Road a few days ago. The paver machine we are using is capable of relaying 3,000 sqm. per day. The entire stretch will be relaied in a few weeks,”said an official.
Currently, relaying of roads at 15 sites is under way. The sites include Sardar Patel Road, LB Road, RK Mutt Road, Peters Road, Walajah Road, Greams Road, Kamarajar Salai, Balfour Road, New Avadi Road, Nungambakkam High Road and South Canal Bank Road.
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Chennai Corporation is permitted to work from midnight to 4 a.m. All the work will be completed before the monsoon, officials said.
A number of newly laid roads damaged by illegal banners will also be restored shortly. The civic body will have to restore such roads on its own as the contractors will not be bound by conditions relating to defect liability period.