Uneven Concrete Road Patches Pose Hazard Across Tambaram Corporation

Motorists and schoolchildren across several parts of Tambaram City Corporation are facing serious hazards due to uneven concrete patches laid after roads were excavated for water supply and underground drainage works.

Excavated stretches from Pallavaram to Tambaram have been restored with concrete mix rather than full-scale blacktopping, leaving surfaces uneven with the surrounding road level. Two-wheeler riders and cyclists have been forced to swerve abruptly to avoid rough patches, leading to minor accidents and traffic slowdowns.

Several key stretches have been heavily affected. On Sivasankaran Street near Pallavaram railway station, the approach to the flyover towards Shandy Road features damaged sections that push vehicles toward the carriageway edges. Along Railway Border Road near Vaishnava College, a stretch laid six months ago was dug up for pipe-laying and restored with uneven concrete. On Chitlapakkam Main Road, the section opposite Varadaraja Cinemas has caused multiple two-wheeler riders to lose their balance.

In Chromepet, Ayyasamy School Street in Ward 35 has been dug up at multiple points for drinking water pipeline work, causing frequent bicycle punctures for students heading to nearby schools and the MIT campus. On Agaram Main Road near Camp Road junction in Ward 45, mud and sand from pipe-laying under the Nemmeli Seawater Desalination Project have created mounds in the middle of the road. Further, a large pothole at the Thiruporur Road-Hasthinapuram bus stand junction continues to disrupt commuters.

Tambaram Corporation Commissioner S. Balachandran said the high cost of road works and a shortage of bitumen contributed to the reliance on concrete patching. He stated that concrete mix was being used on a priority basis as an interim measure to maintain vehicle movement without waiting for full blacktopping. He added that defects would be rectified if brought to the Corporation's notice and appealed to residents to avoid driving on freshly laid concrete before it dries.

Residents and welfare associations have urged the Corporation and the Highways Department to execute comprehensive road relaying rather than temporary patches to prevent accidents.