For a month now, motorists are having a bumpy ride due to the slow progress of drainage repair work on a 200-metre stretch between the bus terminus and the junction in Vadapalani on Arcot Road.
A portion of Arcot Road, especially between Vijaya Hospital and Kamala theatre where the repair work was completed more than two weeks ago has not been re-laid yet. Now, that portion of Arcot Road is ridden with potholes.
According to Corporation officials, the existing underground drainage system in Vadapalani was built nearly three decades ago mainly to prevent inundation of the neighbourhood due to overflow of Chembarabakkam lake near Porur during the northeast monsoon.
The drainage was built then to cater to the needs of a smaller population in the locality which comprises Kumaran Colony, Dasarathapuram, Saligramam, Periyar Pathai and Gandhi Nagar. Over the last two decades, many multi-storey complexes have come up in Vadapalani. However, the civic infrastructure including water pipelines, road space, drainage system remain unchanged. As a result, sewage could often be found overflowing from manholes especially in front of Green Park hotel near Vijaya Hospital. It is against this backdrop that the drainage repair work which includes widening of the existing manhole was taken up by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB).
CMWSSB has paid the fee for road relaying but the Corporation is yet to start the work. According to Corporation officials, once CMWSSB completes its entire work, the road will be relaid.