Several hundreds of IT professionals, patients visiting two huge private hospitals, and students at the Law University have all been suffering for many months due to the bad condition of the MGR Salai in Perungudi.
MGR Salai links the arterial Rajiv Gandhi Salai (IT Expressway) with Taramani Link Road leading to Velachery. It has two major complexes - Millenia Business Park and Global Infocity Park - housing several companies. Commuters say, it is unfortunate that the stretch lies in a pitiable condition with several issues, from potholes to encroachments apart from the road cut that runs through it for a substantial portion.
A substantial part of stretch is riddled with poorly done patchwork and craters, commuters say. Sadhanandham, an auto driver who often drives through the stretch says, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., the road has quite a bit of congestion due to the existing condition of the road. Thousands of commuters who use this road have to carefully navigate the craters and travel past the stretch, he says.
“The main issue is the road is in a terrible shape at several locations. The patchwork done is so bad that there is a slight elevation in the middle of the road for quite a distance. Then, there is another patch where there is a crater in the centre of the road. This slows down the traffic, causing congestion during the peak hours,” he says.
Masilamani, a resident of Perungudi said, it is terrifying to walk through the MGR Salai as there is barely any continuous stretch of footpath. The encroachments occupy the pedestrian walkway and food outlets have even placed chairs and tables for their customers on the footpath, he said.
“As a result, pedestrians must walk on the road. But how can one walk on this road which is hardly in a motorable shape? I have seen two-wheelers skid and fall. Senior citizens like me are even more scared to step out. Unless we walk very carefully, we could trip and fall,” he says.
During the monsoon period, riding or walking the stretch was a nightmare, said TD Babu, who frequently travels past MGR Salai and the president of civic forum Spark. In some parts of the stretch, there is also indiscriminate unauthorised parking by autos, cabs or private vehicles. “Since the footpath is unusable in many locations and there is unauthorised parking on the road, pedestrians are left with no space to walk and are at a great risk. In some parts of the road, there is also open defecation, adding to the list of issues faced by pedestrians,” he rues.
An official of Greater Chennai Corporation says, they are cognisant of the issues that exist in MGR Salai. “We will take it up soon and have it resolved,” an official said.
The road is maintained by the State Highways Department. Sources in the Highways department said that the Chennai Metrowater had taken up drinking water pipeline laying work for the entire length of the road on both sides. While work was stopped before the Northeast monsoon, work has started again in a small stretch for the remaining portion. “The entire road will be milled and re-laid as soon as it is handed over to us,” the source said.
Published - January 27, 2025 12:58 am IST
