Neelankarai Roads Crumble as Drain Work Delay Fuels Daily Commuter Woes
In Neelankarai, several stretches remain dug up and riddled with potholes over a year after work began on a major underground sewer project. With roads such as Blue Beach Road and Marakkayar Nagar still waiting for resurfacing, daily commutes and pedestrian movement have become increasingly difficult for residents. While Casuarina Drive has seen minimal disruption, other residential zones remain neglected. Locals allege the pace of the project has slowed drastically, and authorities have yet to provide a firm timeline for completion. The ongoing inconvenience has sparked frustration, particularly among elderly citizens and working professionals dependent on accessible roads.
The core issue stems from the sewer line infrastructure being built from scratch in an area that primarily relied on septic tanks. Officials involved in the project confirmed that while work on some roads has been completed, many crucial internal streets remain in disrepair, awaiting final approvals before the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) can begin re-laying them. The narrow lanes have been left damaged for months, leading to frequent flooding during rains and forcing vehicles to either detour or navigate through unsafe routes. Despite public pressure, several important roads remain untouched, delaying relief. On weekends, even alternate routes such as Casuarina Drive—used by residents to bypass the broken Blue Beach Road—become inaccessible due to traffic restrictions. This has intensified commuter distress, especially as certain stretches like Kapaleeswarar Nagar 4th Main Road continue to remain dug up.
Residents express growing dissatisfaction over the lack of coordination between implementing agencies and the civic body. Locals say the blocked routes and prolonged delays are emblematic of poor planning and civic indifference in handling urban infrastructure development in environmentally sensitive zones like ECR. Experts have highlighted the wider ecological and mobility implications of such incomplete infrastructure projects. Open drains and dug-up roads not only pose safety risks but also contribute to urban flooding and groundwater contamination during monsoon. In the absence of proper drainage or road relaying, rainwater stagnates, further weakening the soil beneath. Several residents point out that haphazard execution of civic projects without a phased work-and-repair strategy leads to prolonged hardship, particularly for those without private transport. Meanwhile, responses from local officials remain sporadic, with vague assurances instead of action.
It is crucial that civic bodies prioritise timely execution and public accountability, especially in residential neighbourhoods vulnerable to waterlogging and poor walkability. While infrastructure upgrades are necessary, their benefits are undermined when accompanied by prolonged delays, lack of coordination, and insufficient public communication. In areas like Neelankarai, urban planning must be transparent, inclusive, and aligned with sustainable infrastructure models. Prompt relaying of roads, phased construction, and open feedback channels can ease the public burden, ensuring that development does not come at the cost of everyday accessibility and safety.
