A 100-metre stretch of 4th Main Road in VGN Nagar, Iyyappanthangal, remains battered and unlaid after five years of complaints, while a proposal to rebuild it for an estimated Rs 8.18 lakh is still awaiting administrative approval from the District Collector.
The condition of the road has become a daily safety concern for residents and motorists. A 61-year-old woman, identified as Rajeshwari, recently fell on the stretch and suffered an injury, intensifying demands for immediate repairs. Residents said the road is marked by deep potholes, exposed gravel and a badly worn surface.
The road was last laid in 2013. Short spells of rain reportedly leave water stagnating on the uneven surface, making the 100-metre stretch difficult to navigate even for short local journeys. Residents said the damaged road affects routine commuting and creates additional risks for pedestrians and two-wheeler users.
“The road has gone from bad to worse in the last five years. Despite the government having relaid all other roads in the surrounding area, the 4th main road remains in the same condition,” said Senthil, a civic activist and resident of the area.
Residents had also protested and sought an immediate solution. According to Senthil, Iyyappanthangal Panchayat President P Jemila Pandurangan gave a written assurance on April 22, 2026, that the road would be laid within three months. The promised work, however, has not materialised, residents said.
The panchayat president subsequently sought administrative sanction for constructing a new cement concrete road. The estimated cost of the proposed work is Rs 8.18 lakh. The Block Development Officer forwarded the estimate to the District Collector for administrative sanction in July, but the proposal had not received approval as of the latest report.
The delay places the road’s repair within a wider administrative chain in which local bodies can identify and propose works, but execution depends on approvals and funding decisions at higher levels. In this case, residents have a written assurance and a cost estimate, yet the physical condition of the road remains unchanged.
For people living in VGN Nagar, the gap between the announced repair and the completed work is being experienced as continued exposure to dust, potholes, loose gravel and waterlogging. Rajeshwari said the road had made commuting worse and dangerous after her fall.
The immediate administrative milestone is the District Collector’s decision on the proposal for the estimated Rs 8.18 lakh cement concrete road. Until that sanction is issued and the work is taken up, the 4th Main Road will remain in its reported damaged condition.
