Poorly maintained Veeranam road poses risk: Motorists

The Veeranam road was inaugurated just a month ago to make travel easier for those proceeding to OMR from Vandalur as they can avoid heavy traffic on other roads. The road, which is 1.5 kilometres long, was constructed at a cost of Rs 1.1 crore by the Rural Development Board. The money was provided from the special fund of the District Collector.

However, there has been indiscriminate dumping of garbage along the road. Besides being an eyesore, a gust of wind is enough for the waste to spread all over and pose a risk to motorists.

Motorists claimed that the road has become a dumpyard for the local residents who throw plastic trash bags and carry bags filled with domestic waste.

“A gust of wind or a moderate rainfall should be sufficient to bring all the garbage to the road posing grave danger for two-wheeler riders,” said a resident of Vandalur.

Besides the garbage, encroachments have sprouted along the road and are eating into the road space within a month of its inauguration. With authorities turning a blind eye to the problem, the situation is getting worse, claim locals.

D Devanandh, a social activist from the locality, said that he had filed a complaint with the Kelambakkam village panchayat several times to take steps to construct a stormwater drain and to clear the garbage. “But no action has been taken at all,” he said.

Speaking to DT Next, Kelambakkam village panchayat secretary Kumaraswamy said, “We have prepared an estimate for the stormwater drain and have sent it for the approval to the government. Once the approval is given the work will be started.” He added that they have made some arrangements for the removal of garbage too.