Chennai Kolathur Residents Suffer as Damaged Roads Await Repairs Amid Blame Game
Chennai’s Kolathur locality continues to suffer from broken, dug-up roads as government departments pass the buck over delayed repairs. Areas like Devaki Nagar, Raghavendra Nagar, and Nagalakshmi Nagar have become almost impassable after the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board carried out pipeline works and left roads in disrepair. Residents report worsening conditions during rains, with even auto-rickshaws unable to enter the lanes and elderly citizens finding it difficult to walk or access their homes.
The road damage stems from poorly planned pipe-laying work where both sides of roads were dug up simultaneously without phased execution. Locals claim the Chennai Metro Water Board started digging over a month ago but failed to restore the roads after completing the underground work. The situation worsens with every rainfall, turning roads into slippery, muddy stretches that are hazardous for pedestrians and motorists alike.
Frustrated residents have filed complaints, but the response has been a typical bureaucratic shuffle. The Greater Chennai Corporation and the Metro Water Board have allegedly blamed each other for the delays, leaving citizens stuck in limbo. Despite public outcry, no immediate repair work has started. Approximately 150 residents, many of them elderly, are severely affected, especially during emergencies or daily commuting.
Ward 30 Councillor D Duraiswamy acknowledged the issue and said that the matter has been raised with the Corporation. According to him, repair work will begin after the tender allocation process is finalized, but no specific timeline has been provided. For now, the battered roads of Kolathur remain a symbol of civic apathy and administrative disarray.
