Chennai residents face dust and damaged roads due to repeated digging again

The prolonged menace of uncoordinated road digging across Chennai has yet again stirred public outrage, as residents across multiple neighbourhoods report months-long delays in road restoration, debris-ridden streets, and deteriorating urban mobility.

More than 1,300 roads out of the 3,611 sanctioned for relaying by the Greater Chennai Corporation are still pending, primarily due to road cuts initiated by different utility agencies. These repeated interruptions, often carried out without public notification or visible timelines, have left large swathes of the city in a state of neglect and uncertainty. From central zones such as Nungambakkam to southern pockets like Neelankarai, the common refrain remains one of frustration. Residents have been grappling with patchy road surfaces, broken pavements, and air thick with dust as digging for underground utilities continues with little respite. Streets once restored are being reopened within months, undermining public faith in civic coordination. Compounding the issue is the damage to existing utilities during excavation, which has disrupted essential services like electricity and water supply, especially during significant local festivities, inconveniencing senior citizens and vulnerable communities.

Concrete roads that were dug up and supposedly restored just a year ago are being cut open once again. Localities in the north, such as Madhavaram and Perambur, have reported similar grievances, pointing towards a systemic flaw in long-term planning and inter-agency collaboration. In southern localities like Neelankarai, the ongoing work to lay storm-water drains and sewage lines has not only extended for over four months but has also resulted in the rupture of water supply pipelines, leading to severe shortages in drinking water.

According to senior civic officials, road relaying is being held back due to pending No Objection Certificates from departments handling underground utilities. As per the official stance, over 1,200 roads are currently undergoing utility work, and the delay is necessary for ensuring the longevity of infrastructure expected to last over five decades. Weekly coordination meetings are held, and emergency responses such as water tank supply are initiated in affected areas. However, for residents, these explanations are little solace when daily mobility and access to basic amenities remain compromised.

The larger concern, however, lies in the absence of a synchronised roadmap for sustainable urban development. The repetitive nature of excavation — often on recently patched roads — not only causes a colossal waste of public resources but also exacerbates the city’s carbon footprint through construction emissions, inefficient utility repair cycles, and dust pollution. Moreover, the failure to adopt eco-sensitive planning and gender-neutral urban design further alienates segments of the population who already face mobility challenges, such as children, women, and the elderly.

Chennai’s growing population and infrastructure demands require more than reactive civic management. The city stands at a critical juncture where public frustration must translate into policy reform. Greater accountability, real-time project monitoring, and a shift towards integrated planning models are crucial if the vision for a zero-net-carbon and people-centric city is to be realised. Until then, residents continue to tread carefully, both figuratively and literally, over the cracks of an uncoordinated system.

Chennai residents face dust and damaged roads due to repeated digging again