The effect a wound has on a body depends on its location. Besides, even a wound the size of a peanut can prove quite a handful if it has the persistence of a burrowing badger.

A ‘wound’ on Ponnambalam Salai in K.K. Nagar is both inconveniently located and unrelentingly persistent, creating a ripple effect impacting residents in neighbouring streets as well.

According to K.S. Rajendran, president of Federation of KK Nagar Residents Welfare Association, the wound was inflicted on the road six months ago when a part of it caved in as a result of a problem pertaining to CMWSSB’s sewage line underneath. Rajendran notes that a quick fix was offered, but the issue returned and water seepage persisted.

Around a month ago, a massive remedial exercise was undertaken. This move caused a section of the road to be cordoned off. Rajendran remarks that in whatever space was available on this section, hawkers parked their wares making it almost air-tight, making it impossible for even motorcyclists to squeeze through it.

Rajendran says Ponnambalam Salai has been pitchforked into a busy section.

“Five schools, including PSBB, Springfield and MAK are located within a half-a-kilometre radius. While access to Ramaswamy Salai and 66th Street and Raghavendra temple from Ponamballam is noticeably hindered for motorists on account of the work, wider movement has also been hit but is not all too evident, except to those living in these parts,” says the Federation president.

Echoing a collective demand, he seeks that the work be expedited and also carried out in a manner that would not require barricades to come up on this road again.