The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : In Koyambedu, a dirt track passes off for a road

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 02, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

In Koyambedu, a dirt track passes off for a road

K. Lakshmi

Kaliamman Koil Street pitted, pockmarked, dusty and unsafe: residents

TREACHEROUS PATH: Motorists have a bumpy ride on the battered Kaliamman Koil Street at Koyambedu as it is a short route to Virugambakkam. — Photo: K.Pichumani

CHENNAI : Visitors to Kaliamman Koil Street in Koyembedu could be forgiven for thinking they are on a dirt racetrack, going by the clouds of dust kicked up by vehicles on the road. Not only that; it is badly potholed, almost all along its four-kilometre length.

The road, abutting the Koyambedu market, links the area with Virugambakkam, and allows motorists to avoid the detour from Vadapalani. This is why it's a popular route, despite the backbreaking ride. But the pitfalls are serious. On Thursday morning, a woman on a moped fell because she could not control her vehicle on the road. She was able to get up and ride away, but with several bruises on her face.

With the topping washed away by the monsoon, the gravel beneath has been exposed. Motorists using the stretch have cause to fear puncture tyres at any time. At night, the dust clouds reduce visibility even more.

The buildings and trees on either side of the road have lost their original colour, they are now covered with dust. Residents of the street complain of breathing problems caused by the dust kicked up by the vehicles.

Residents of Chinmaya Nagar said the road had been in poor shape for nearly five years now, except for brief periods when it is blacktopped now and then.

It is only a one-km stretch that is in dire need of blacktopping, but even that has not been done despite several representations, said a resident.

P.R. Giridhar who uses the road to reach his office in Virugambakkam said the black topping wears off during the rains because of the poor quality.

The road, which covers several residential areas, is also a bus route with buses operating from T. Nagar to Thiruverkadu taking the road, he said.

Vimala Rani, a resident, lamented that residents had to shell out more for autos, who are not willing to take the route unless they got paid extra.

Residents are demanding that the road be properly laid to withstand the rains.

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