Kundrathur road work drags on.

Delay in the completion of road-widening work on Kundrathur Main Road - an important arterial stretch connecting residential localities in the western suburbs to the city - is causing hardship to several thousand every day.

Residents point out that work on widening the stretch between Kumananchavadi and Mangadu was completed about eight months ago. However, a 3.2-km stretch from Mangadu to Kundrathur has not been improved. This entire stretch has deep cuts in the middle of the road. As a result, traffic is allowed only on one side of the road, resulting in pile-ups of vehicles during peak hours, pointed out S. Kumar of Chikkarayapuram.

'The worst affected are school students, particularly during the morning rush hour,' says M.N. Raveendran, councillor, Mangadu town panchayat.

For some residents, there was a ray of hope a while ago when gravel was dumped on the road as a possible indication of completion of the work. However, it was stopped midway. 'We have taken up this issue with the highways department, but we only receive assurances,' Mr. Raveendran added.

K. Muralidharan, another resident of Chikkarayapuram said water had stagnated in the dug-up portion of the road, resulting in the breeding of mosquitoes.

Highways officials said the work was stopped for the soil consolidation process as if this was not done there was a possibility of potholes forming within months. 'We need at least a couple of months. The work is expected to start once the rains stop and is likely to be completed in three months. The road will be strengthened at a cost of Rs. 3 crore,' an official said.


THE HINDU