Tamil Nadu's Madipakkam road remains unrepaired, causing problems

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu highways department has received 1.9 crore to fix the Madipakkam Bazaar Main Road, but the 2.7-kilometer stretch remains in bad condition. The poor state of the road has forced the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to reroute buses, leaving residents without convenient access to public transport. Metrowater dug up parts of the road for new sewer connections, causing damage from Kaiveli junction to Axis Bank on Medavakkam Main Road. Although some areas have been filled with wet mix concrete, this is only a temporary fix. The road is now uneven, posing safety risks for drivers. Cars have to drive into oncoming traffic to avoid obstacles, and motorcyclists often skid or fall. Heavy vehicles are also struggling with the unpaved edges, leading to traffic jams that require cranes for assistance. Buses on route V51, which used to serve the area, have been diverted, forcing residents to walk to Kaiveli for a bus. A resident-activist, Srikumar, expressed frustration, saying, "What should've been a full relaying has become a dangerous patch-up job with no follow-up in over six weeks." Similar issues are reported on roads in around Srinivasa Nagar and Ram Nagar. Metrowater officials claimed that sewer work is finished in four of the seven zones and that temporary repairs were made. However, they admitted that the repairs are failing due to heavy traffic and not enough time for the materials to set. An official noted that the wet mix should cure for 3 to 5 hours, but motorists often ignore barricades and drive over fresh repairs. Although some work has been completed, the highways department has not yet laid down new asphalt. Highway officials have not responded to requests for comments.