The worn-out road at the junction of Thiruvengadam Street and Devanathan Street in Mandaveli in Chennai
| Photo Credit: S.R. Raghunathan

If you are among the thousands who travel from Adyar and Mandaveli to Mylapore, nothing can quite prepare you for crossing the Thiruvengadam Street-Devanathan Street junction.

This junction has become crucial for vehicles coming from Adyar, which take a left turn onto Thiruvengadam Street and then cross the junction to reach Mylapore. To accommodate the Chennai Metro Rail work in the Mylapore and Mandaveli areas, a traffic diversion came into effect several several months ago, and buses now pass through the junction as well.

“The end of Thiruvengadam Street is in such poor shape that it almost feels like there is a vertical speed breaker or a raised pavement in the middle of the road. Beyond that, the road at the junction is completely eroded and strewn with gravel. I have seen quite a few two-wheeler riders slip and injure themselves at this junction,” said Gita V., a resident of R.A. Puram.

Commuters said the bus stop has been shifted to one side of the pavement on Thiruvengadam Street, while pipes and construction materials have been stacked on the other. K.L. Balasubramanian, secretary of the R.K. Nagar Association in Mandaveli, said many senior citizens in the area prefer to walk to complete their errands and could easily trip and fall while crossing the junction.

“Be it pedestrians, residents, or motorists — everyone struggles to cross this junction. It has been in pathetic condition for months now. The uneven terrain at this junction makes it very dangerous for both pedestrians and two-wheelers. We understand that the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) undertook pipeline work; but this is a bus route, and they should have been mindful of that and managed the work accordingly. Now, we are waiting for the Chennai Corporation authorities to restore the road,” Mr. Balasubramanian said.

A. Arockiaraj, a frequent commuter, said that even during moderate showers, one has to carefully manoeuvre their vehicle through the area. Officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation said that Metrowater has just completed pipeline strengthening work and the road has now been handed over to them. “We understand the concerns. We will float bids now and repair and relay the road within five days,” an official said.