Pammal's Pothole Peril: Residents Endure Nightmare as Sewerage Work Decimates Roads

For the residents of Pammal, a bustling suburb in Chennai, daily commutes have transformed into a relentless test of endurance and patience. What were once passable roads have now been reduced to treacherous stretches of broken asphalt and gaping trenches, all thanks to the ongoing Metrowater sewerage project.

The emotional tone is one of shared frustration and desperation among the community.

The ordeal, which began over a year ago, has seen vital arteries like Nallathambi Road, Gandhi Road, Pammal Main Road, and MGR Road, along with numerous internal lanes such as Annai Therasa Street and Bharathidhasan Street, completely decimated.

These extensive excavations, intended for pipe laying, have been left largely unrepaired, creating a hazardous landscape that residents must navigate daily. Lakshmi Nagar and Moovarasampet are among the many areas bearing the brunt of this civic negligence.

The consequences are far-reaching and deeply personal.

Dust pollution has become an inescapable reality, coating homes, lungs, and the very air residents breathe. This constant exposure has led to a noticeable increase in respiratory ailments, turning once-clean environments into health hazards. Traffic, already a challenge in urban settings, has spiraled into chaos, with vehicles inching along damaged paths, creating endless jams and adding precious minutes, if not hours, to commutes.

Safety is perhaps the most pressing concern.

Pedestrians struggle to find a safe footing, while two-wheeler riders face the constant threat of skidding and falling on the uneven, gravel-strewn surfaces. School children, particularly vulnerable, must navigate these perilous routes daily, raising fears among parents about their well-being. The absence of proper warning signs or alternative routes only exacerbates the danger, turning simple journeys into high-stakes ventures.

Local residents express profound frustration at what they perceive as the glacial pace of the project and the glaring lack of coordination between departments.

"It's been over a year, and the roads are still in this pathetic condition. We understand the need for infrastructure, but why can't the restoration be done promptly?" laments a local shopkeeper. Another resident highlights the bureaucratic quagmire: "Metrowater lays the pipes, but then the local body is supposed to re-lay the roads.

There's no synergy, and we, the public, pay the price."

While Metrowater officials have stated that the pipe-laying work is complete and road restoration is contingent on funds being released to the local body, this explanation offers little comfort to those enduring the daily nightmare. The blame game between departments only prolongs the suffering of Pammal's citizens.

The community's urgent plea is for immediate intervention, streamlined execution, and the swift restoration of their roads, transforming their daily struggle back into a semblance of normal life.