Encroachments and Slow Civic Works Shrink 40 Feet Road Near Avadi to 15 Feet
Rampant encroachments and the slow progress of ongoing civic works have narrowed the 1.5-kilometre 40 Feet Road near Avadi to just 15 feet. The drastic reduction of the road, which links areas near Ivan Stedford Hospital and Cholambedu, has caused severe hardships for local residents and daily motorists commuting between Thirumullaivoyal and Cholambedu.
The 40 Feet Road is a vital route that forms the boundary between the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Avadi corporation limits. Thousands of vehicles traverse this stretch every day to avoid the heavy traffic on the busy Avadi-Redhills Road.
According to local residents, approximately 50 encroachments have occupied a significant portion of the road over the years. These illegal structures include residential buildings, roadside shops, mobile eateries, and various other setups.
The situation has worsened due to the construction of stormwater drains on both sides of the road. Last year, the Avadi corporation began drain construction work on Shanthi Street and Natesan Street. More recently, the GCC’s Ambattur Zone floated a tender worth ₹50 lakh for stormwater drain construction in nearby areas, including Govindarajulu Street, Saraswathy Nagar, and Pandurangan Street. However, residents state that these works have been progressing at a very slow pace.
K Murali Krishan, a member of the SMART association in Avadi, explained that the deteriorated road conditions have discouraged water tankers and other heavy vehicles from entering the locality. This has left more than 5,000 residents, who lack a piped drinking water supply, struggling to get water. Currently, residents are forced to receive water from private tankers only late at night or early in the morning.
In response to the complaints, a senior Avadi corporation official stated that the locality would be inspected. The official assured that contractors would be penalised if the stormwater drain work is found to be stalled, and that immediate action would be taken against encroachments and illegal roadside vendors.
