The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to revamp 2,118 damaged roads across the city, allocating Rs 2.82 billion for the project. Work orders have been issued, and the GCC plans to complete half of the road relaying by mid-October, ahead of the northeast monsoon.

Key roads slated for improvement include Venugopal Street in Mogappair, Ellaiamman Kovil Street in West Mambalam, Kannan Street in Korukkupet, and Govidan Road in Saidapet. The project will cover various regions, with 220 roads in Thiruvottiyur and Manali, 200 in Madhavaram, 180 in Sholinganallur, 170 in Anna Nagar, 160 in Valasaravakkam, and 112 in Kodambakkam.

GCC Deputy Mayor Mahesh Kumar has instructed contractors to adhere to strict guidelines, including milling 40mm of the road surface and completing the relaying process within five days. "We aim to complete half of the work by October. Councillors and officers have surveyed roads that have reached the five-year mark for relaying," he stated.

The relaying is part of two major schemes: the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Project (TURIP) and the Nagarapura Salai Mempattu Thittam (NSMT).

Activists have urged the GCC to measure the original width of roads before relaying to ensure that full widths are reclaimed from encroachments and illegally parked vehicles. "Cars parked by local mechanics are often left untouched during road relaying. Even when residents report it on social media, no action is taken. These complaints need to be escalated," said N Vishwanathan, an activist from KK Nagar.

Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of the anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam, emphasized the importance of maintaining proper road camber to prevent water stagnation and called for immediate road markings after relaying. In areas like Mogappair?s Thirukural Munisamy Salai, concerns have been raised about incomplete milling and improper road slopes, leading to water pooling in the centre.

Ideally, the centre of the road, known as the crown, should be 80mm higher than the sides, which should be 40mm high, to ensure water drains effectively into the side gutters. On curved roads, the elevation should be 80mm on one side and 40mm on the other, directing water from the higher side to the lower side and into the drains.

(TOI)