Chennai Urges Swift Fix For Unsafe Nagar Road
Chennai’s MGR Nagar is facing mounting safety concerns as residents report that a recently excavated stretch of Anna Main Road has become increasingly hazardous for daily commuters. The road, dug up for pipeline repairs by the city’s water utility, now poses a significant risk, particularly after dusk, due to uneven surfaces and inadequate lighting. The issue has revived debate on the need for safer, inclusive mobility infrastructure across rapidly growing urban neighbourhoods.
According to residents, the stretch near the ESI Hospital and the MGR Nagar market was dug open for emergency Metro Water pipeline work several weeks ago. While the underlying utilities were restored, the surface repair appears to have been left incomplete. Regular users say that what was once a reasonably smooth road now contains deep depressions, broken patches, and unmarked excavations that make manoeuvring difficult for all road users. A local auto-rickshaw driver explained that visibility drops drastically at night. “The lighting on this part of the road is poor. You only notice the pothole once the vehicle has already hit it,” he said, adding that repeated jolts have become a daily occurrence. Commuters on two-wheelers share similar concerns, noting that the absence of reflective markers or warning signs often causes riders unfamiliar with the area to lose balance. “The dip comes up unexpectedly because the streetlights are dim here. I have seen many bikers skid,” said a daily motorcyclist.
Urban mobility experts argue that such situations reflect gaps in coordination between utilities and civic agencies. They note that in dense residential areas, poorly restored road cuts escalate the risk of accidents, disproportionately affecting night-shift workers, women commuters, and senior citizens. An urban planner said that cities aspiring for safer, more equitable mobility systems must ensure that post-repair reinstatement of streets is treated as a critical step, not an afterthought. Attempts to reach the area’s engineering officials for clarity on restoration timelines were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, residents say they have submitted multiple complaints requesting immediate resurfacing and better illumination. They warn that with thousands of vehicles using this arterial lane daily, delays could lead to serious injuries.
Civic activists also point out that streets in lower-income or high-density neighbourhoods often remain poorly lit and inadequately maintained, reinforcing mobility inequity. “Safe roads are a basic requirement for sustainable and inclusive cities. Neglected stretches like this discourage walking, cycling, and public transport use,” said a community organiser. For now, residents are urging the Greater Chennai Corporation to prioritise the repair and restore adequate street lighting. Timely intervention, they say, is essential not only to avoid accidents but also to ensure that neighbourhood mobility remains accessible and safe for all, regardless of age, gender, or travel mode.
Chennai Urges Swift Fix For Unsafe Nagar Road
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