After two years, Bharathi Salai in Ramapuram has been relaid. The road was dug up in 2016 by Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to lay stormwater drains and pipes respectively. Although both the projects were completed in July 2018, the road was not relaid.
The Stage Highways took up the relaying work in the last week of January and it got over within two days.
In the past, Ramapuram Social Welfare Federation, a forum consisting of 69 residents welfares associations in Wards 154 and 155 under Valasaravakkam Zone, had made several representations seeking that he road be mended.
Office-bearers of the Federation say that the road has been relaid well with bitumen coating. “It is a big relief to residents. It is one of the main roads in Ramapuram and therefore witnesses heavy traffic. However, a lot more remains to be done. Footpaths need to be constructed. Besides, other safety features such as signboards, reflectors and speed-breakers need to be provided. We have also requested the Highways department to relay Thiruvalluvar Salai, another main road in Ramapuram, without much delay,” says A. Paul Dhas, president of the Federation.
As Bharathi Salai has been relaid now, the Federation will be making a representation to Metropolitan Transport Corporation seeking small buses and regular buses to cover the entire route within Ramapuram.
Residents say that citing bad roads, small buses S26 (Ramapuram to Ashok Nagar), S86 (Ramapuram to Porur) and regular buses 27R (From Porur to Kovalam via Ramapuram) and 18E (From Ramapuram to Broadway) did not cover the last four stops of the route. Instead, the buses take a U turn at Arasa Maram stopover and do not go up to the terminus in Naidu Street.
“MTC does not seem to make use of the terminus. Instead, we find fire-tending machines of Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services there. Moreover, private cabs also parked. Also, we will be requesting the MTC to introduce new services to Koyambedu from Ramapuram.” adds Paul Dhas.