Chennai Perungudi Footpath Repairs Sought By Pedestrians
A deteriorating pedestrian corridor along MGR Salai in Perungudi has emerged as another reminder of the widening gap between Chennai’s infrastructure ambitions and the everyday mobility needs of its residents. The damaged walkway, located on a key link connecting Rajiv Gandhi Salai with Taramani–Velachery Road, is forcing pedestrians onto fast-moving traffic lanes, raising concerns about road safety, accessibility and the quality of urban public spaces.
The Perungudi footpath serves a dense employment and commercial district that accommodates technology offices, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and neighbourhood businesses. Despite the area’s economic importance, residents say the pedestrian infrastructure has steadily declined over recent months, with uneven paving, damaged utility covers and multiple obstructions making safe walking increasingly difficult. Urban mobility experts argue that walkable streets are a fundamental element of productive cities rather than an optional civic amenity. Safe footpaths encourage public transport use, reduce dependence on private vehicles and improve access to workplaces, retail centres and public services. In high-density corridors such as Perungudi, neglected pedestrian infrastructure can undermine wider investments in transport and commercial development.
Local community representatives say the condition of the Perungudi footpath disproportionately affects older adults, women, children and people with reduced mobility, many of whom are compelled to share carriageways with heavy traffic during peak commuting hours. The situation has become more challenging as ongoing infrastructure works in the corridor have narrowed available road space, increasing conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. Urban planners note that Chennai has expanded investment in metro rail, highways and major transport corridors over the past decade. However, they caution that the success of these projects ultimately depends on the quality of first- and last-mile connectivity. Broken pavements, inaccessible crossings and encroachments discourage walking and weaken the effectiveness of public transport systems designed to reduce congestion and emissions. The corridor falls under the jurisdiction of the State Highways Department, which is responsible for maintaining the pedestrian infrastructure along the stretch. Residents have called for damaged paving blocks to be replaced, hazardous utility covers to be secured and commercial encroachments to be removed so that the walkway can once again function as intended.
The issue also reflects a broader challenge confronting rapidly urbanising Indian cities, where investment often prioritises vehicle movement while pedestrian infrastructure receives comparatively limited attention. Recent judicial observations recognising safe pedestrian access as an integral component of the right to life have reinforced expectations that civic agencies must treat walkability as essential public infrastructure rather than an afterthought. With Perungudi continuing to attract employment, real estate investment and transit-oriented development, urban policy specialists believe restoring safe and continuous pedestrian routes will be critical to creating an inclusive business district. Timely maintenance, coordinated utility management and stronger enforcement against encroachments could improve safety while supporting a more resilient, people-centred urban environment.
