Trenches on PH Road pose grave risks

Chennai

Construction of  the Anna Arch flyover has been delayed due to various factors for several years. Construction of one wing was completed in March and the metro wing officials started work on one more wing from Nelson Manickam Road to Poonamallee High Road. Sources said the workers had dug two big trenches in the middle of the road hampering motorists proceeding to Koyambedu and Poonamallee. “On the one hand, we are happy that the officials have completed one wing of the flyover from Poonamallee High Road to Nelson Manickam Road.

On the other, it is very pathetic that workers have dug up big trenches posing threats to motorists,”  said A Kamala Kannan, employed in a private firm, who passes through this stretch on week days. Once he could not spot a trench and stopped his two-wheeler just ahead of it.

Incomplete pillars pose another problem. MTC buses have to negotiate curves. “Whenever, we reach this place from Broadway, it is a big headache for us. Because all vehicles move inch by inch. Officials should realise that there should be no trenches in the middle of roads since that may lead to fatalities,” said an MTC driver.

“Since the vehicles move in a haphazard manner, there is no space for pedestrians to go to the other side of the road,” said A Suganya, a resident of Shanthi Colony near Anna Nagar.

A senior engineer from Metro Wing SH department said that they were aware of such problems. “We are regularly inspecting the trenches, dug up for pillars and we will fill them up within a week,”. The engineer said that they had instructed the contractors to expedite the work.