Citizen Connect: Wear and tear on Durgabai Deshmukh Road catches commuters by surprise

It is one of the busiest stretches leading all the way to Tiruvanmiyur. An important transit point for those proceeding to Adyar and Besant Nagar, with bus stops, performance centre and a college alongside restaurants, Durgabai Deshmukh Road sees heavy traffic movement all through the day. However, for the last few days, commuters have been complaining about the battered portions of the road at the beginning of Adyar Bridge, on the side of MGR Janaki College. While some of them have been caught unaware of the bad portion of the road, the probability of skidding on the stretch has caused concerns among many.

Ramakrishnan V, a resident of Adyar, said that the portion can be misleading. “Since the road widens, many commuters speed a little to avoid getting caught in traffic or proceed towards the LB Road Flyover quickly. They will be taken by surprise, as the road suddenly sinks in,” he pointed out, adding that the large pothole-like damage to the road can barely be seen from a distance. “But when you approach and slow down, there is a thud and jolt and can even throw you off the vehicle,” he said.

CR Balaji, a resident of Mandaveli and a citizen activist who has been reaching out to authorities to get civic issues sorted across departments, has written to the Highways Department regarding the bad condition of the road. In his letter dated December 8, he has raised concerns about the possibility of commuters losing balance and has sought immediate intervention by the department. He said, “Such damage can be caused by rains or due to overuse. I have brought it to the notice of authorities, urging them to take quick steps.”

However, the State Highways Department pointed out that the section came under the purview of the Greater Chennai Corporation. M Govinda Rao, Deputy Commissioner (Works), said that they have received reports on the bad condition of the road. “It has been brought to our notice that commuting on the part near the beginning of the Adyar Bridge is difficult. We will be attending to the stretch soon,” he assured.