Only gymnasts can use extended Ernavur road

CHENNAI: Not all residents of Brindhavan Nagar in Ernavur are athletes but each one of them has gained expertise in clearing hurdles, thanks to the unlevelled and battered Brindhavan extension road. More than a hundred families use the stretch on a daily basis, which falls under ward 4 of Chennai corporation.

Ever since the ward, which originally fell under the then Tiruvottiyur municipality, was annexed to Chennai corporation, the road has not been laid due to the negligence of the local officials, charge the locals, and point out that the adjacent main road has been properly laid.

“Merely walking along the stretch is a challenge. School children who are forced to use the road suffer the most during the rainy season,” says K. Venkataiah, a resident. “The corporation must produce the estimate for all the roads in the ward while planning to lay new ones. Instead, the roads are laid randomly owing to which many roads similar to Brindhavan extension road are ignored permanently,” he added.

“During a recent public meeting, many residents complained about the poor condition of the roads. While the main road has been laid by the civic body, it takes time to bringing the focus of the city corporation to lay this extension road,” rued R. Jayaram, former chairman of Tiruvottiyur municipality.

Ward councillor S. Saravanan said the paper work was on to lay the road while it would take three months to complete the re-laying work. “It takes a lot of time to complete this road work as the road is in a very bad condition,” admitted Saravanan. “After filling the road with debris, work on black topping the road will begin,” he added.