Tiruvaleeswarar Nagar gets paved road after 15 years

“We had to fight a legal battle to get a black topping for our muddy roads,” say the residents. Maangadu S. S. Velusamy, who owns a driving school in the area says, “This is the best thing to have happened to us. There are more than 300 tenements here and not a single person has escaped the bumpy ride all these years.” 

Tiruvaleeswarar Nagar is an arterial road connecting Balaji Padi Kuppam Road and Thirumangalam  Road. At least 10 streets such as Avvai Street, Thirugnanasambandar Street, Jagadambikai Street, Manickavasagar Street, Illango Street, Vettri Vinayagar Street, Sundarar Street and Appar Street, branch off from these two roads. 

Work on laying these roads was taken up in June by the civic authorities, And completed at a cost of Rs. 3.5 crore. All the roads have been given a thermos plastic white margin (on either side of the road) and reflectors.           

However, the new road also had  unexpected accidents. Motorists who were used to a back-breaking experience began to speed up on the smooth roads. This resulted in five accidents within a fortnight in July 2016. “A 24-year-old pedestrian suffered hip injuries due to rash driving by a 19-yearold auto driver,” said a resident. Based on a request by locals, the Corporation agreed to put up nearly 30 speed breakers in the entire area. “It could have been completed earlier but we halted the work due to announcement of local body polls. As it has been put off, we are continuing the work now,” said an official. 

“Speeding vehicles used to be a problem at night as these roads are a short cut to reach Padi Kuppam or Thirumanglam. Thanks to the civic authorities, though there is a speed breaker every 20 feet on some stretches, we heave a sigh of relief when we walk now,” says Rajendran, who owns a tailoring unit here. 

The speed breakers have evoked a mixed response from motorists. Auto driver Aaru says, “Speed breakers have been laid at the junction of each street, within a very short distance of each other. At times when I transport pregnant women, they find it difficult as the ride is bumpy due to the speed breakers.” The authorities have also begun work on storm water drains in the entire area. and work has been completed in Jagadambal Street, Illango Street and Vetri Vinayakar Street, said officials.