CHENNAI: "I want the councillor, the mayor and, why not, the minister to go on a two-wheeler ride with their wife or mother on this road and share their lovely experience," fumed Karpagam(55). If you think her demands are a little too much, she actually has developed a back ache after regularly using the Kottivakam Kuppam Road, Thiruvanmiyur. Her reaction sums up the minds of the sufferers — pedestrians and two wheelers — of the road for the past three months.The scenario was different four months back, as the road was perfectly laid. But within a week’s time, the road seems to have been dug and the entire stretch from Singapore shopping complex till Thiruvalluvar Nagar wore the look of a heavily ploughed field, with heaps of tar and rubble on it. It caused traffic jams in the peak hours. While the Kottivakam Kuppam Road is only 20 feet wide, now only 10 feet of the road is useable.Karpagam, a resident of Subramaiam Avenue, said, “In peak hours, pedestrians can't even think of walking on this road, as every vehicle tries to find some space to squeeze in. I have stopped going with my husband on a bike as it caused backaches. Walking on the road on rainy days is dangerous too, as we are not able to spot the bumps and the ditches. When the light fades, it is totally impossible to walk on this road.”For women drivers, this road is not favourable at all as many accidents keep happening every other day, said Venugopal, an auto driver from the Third Seaward Road stand, who is a witness to many such incidents. Priya, who uses both a two wheeler and a car on the road, has met with mishaps twice already. “It is a total lack of responsibility and accountability from the government. They just dig, heap the rubble and leave it for months together," she said.Ananthi, a resident asks, “Why can't all the civic agencies work together and finish all the necessary digging work, and then lay the road?"Arcot RoadA major road, connecting Porur, Valasarawakkam and other suburban areas to the heart of the city till Nungambakkam, this is one of the most neglected stretches in the city. The stretch between Vadapalani and Virugambakkam, which already was under perennial digging and maintenance work, has been further battered by the recent spell, making it a nightmare for commuters. "A huge pit in front of the Avichi Higher Sec School in Virugambakkam is a hellhole for commuters during the night time," says Shiva Prasad, who stays in Porur and uses the road regularly. "The mud that was dug out during maintanence work has mixed with the rainwater making the entire area slushy," says Govindarajan, a senior resident of Alwarthiru Nagar. "Many bikers have fallen in this area in the last one week alone. The deep craters and the heavy traffic on the road make matters worse," he added.Kaliamman Koil StA small but prime road connecting Koyambedu to KK Nagar and MGR Nagar, Kaliamman Koil Street has been completely washed away in the recent rains. According to residents, there was knee-deep water stagnating on this road till Monday. The road, which is just about 20 feet wide, is subjected to heavy two-wheeler and car traffic, making matters worse and causing traffic jams for hours across the street. This road also bears the repercussions of the overall traffic scenario in Koyambedu and KK Nagar, where traffic already is chaotic due to Metro rail works. Residents complained that pedestrian movement was very difficult on the road as vehicles kept splashing water across the street and the roads were slushy. No repair works have reportedly been commissioned for this area. The situation is more severe towards the end of Koyambedu, where there is heavy water-logging.VadapalaniThe stretch on the 100-feet road between KK Nagar and Vadapalani signal has become a menace for commuters. The area which handles one of the heaviest traffic inflows into the city has been battered and washed away by the rains over the last week. According to residents, the stretch was repaired temporarily when it was damaged during earlier rains only to be battered again by the recent showers. People are reported to have bumped off their two wheelers on this stretch, thanks to the deep craters and slush from Metro Rail construction debris. Similar is the plight of the stretch between Koyambedu Flyover and Thirumangalam junction where vehicles bumping into one another has become a common scene, according to a shopkeeper in the area.
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