Highways Department takes up repairs on roads damaged during Cyclone Ditwah in Chennai

The Highways Department has taken up the repair of several roads damaged during Cyclone Ditwah. Of the 654 km of roads under the department’s control in the city, potholes have developed on 109 km of the carriageway.

“We have been working at night and have completed repairs on 89 km of roads. Waterlogging at specific locations and constant running of vehicles at these spots are a major reason for this,” said a source in the Highways Department.

Locations such as the stretch opposite the Greater Chennai Corporation Headquarters on Poonamallee High Road, Mount Poonamallee High Road near Porur, Arcot Road in Valasaravakkam, VGN Nagar in Iyyappanthangal, and Thiruneermalai Road in Nagalkeni have been patched up.

“The patches are small or large, and in some places, paver machines have been used. Restoration of the riding surface is necessary to ensure better flow of traffic. Many of these damaged points have been affected due to lack of storm-water drains. Water from interior roads flow to roads under our control due to the gradient. Though we have installed motor pumps in many places, waterlogging still happens,” an engineer of the department said.

T. Gunaseelan of Ambattur said repairs had been carried out near the bus terminus only at some places. “They should ensure that waterlogging does not happen on major roads unless the rain is very heavy. There are still stretches without storm-water drains. The department should have constructed drains in vulnerable locations considering the fact that with global warming we are getting more rainy days with heavier rain,” he said.

A contractor said unless repairs were undertaken, roads would remain non-motorable. “In a city that faces monsoons regularly, potholes cannot be avoided. We only have to be prepared to take up repairs the moment rain stops,” he added.