A heavily used section of Mount Poonamallee Road in west Chennai has become increasingly hazardous for daily commuters after road resurfacing works were left incomplete following milling activity, exposing deeper concerns about coordination failures between transport infrastructure agencies and the city’s rapidly expanding mobility network.
The affected corridor, stretching between Porur and Kathipara, serves as a vital connector for residential neighbourhoods, industrial clusters, hospitals, and Chennai’s growing IT workforce travelling towards Guindy and the OMR belt. While sections of the carriageway were stripped for relaying in recent weeks, fresh surfacing has yet to begin in several pockets, leaving uneven stretches, exposed road layers, and water-prone depressions across the route. For thousands of motorists using the arterial road every day, the deteriorating surface has translated into slower travel times, rising accident risks, and mounting vehicle maintenance costs. Two-wheeler riders are among the worst affected, particularly during peak-hour congestion when damaged road edges force riders into narrow traffic gaps shared with buses and heavy vehicles.
Urban mobility experts say the situation reflects a recurring challenge in Indian metros where parallel infrastructure projects especially metro rail expansion and utility upgrades frequently outpace coordinated road restoration planning. In Chennai, ongoing underground and elevated transit works have intensified pressure on already strained roads, particularly in western and southern growth corridors witnessing high real estate and commercial expansion.Transport planners note that incomplete post-construction road recovery not only impacts traffic efficiency but also weakens broader climate resilience efforts. Poorly maintained stretches with potholes and uneven surfaces reduce stormwater drainage efficiency during monsoon periods, increasing the likelihood of water stagnation and secondary road damage. Such conditions also contribute to higher vehicular emissions as idling traffic and stop-start movement worsen fuel consumption.
According to officials familiar with the project, parts of the delayed resurfacing are linked to continuing construction activity associated with Chennai Metro Rail expansion works. Authorities indicated that permanent relaying across the Mount Poonamallee Road stretch may proceed in phases once barricaded construction zones are cleared and utility integration is completed. Residents and transport users in the corridor argue that temporary traffic management measures have not matched the scale of disruption. Civic observers point out that Chennai’s infrastructure upgrades often prioritise project completion targets over commuter safety and pedestrian comfort during transitional construction phases.The corridor’s condition has also renewed discussion around the need for integrated urban street design that accommodates public transport, walking infrastructure, drainage systems, and utility works within a single planning framework rather than through fragmented execution by multiple agencies. As Chennai continues investing in large-scale transit expansion to reduce long-term congestion and emissions, urban policy specialists say the success of such projects will increasingly depend on how effectively the city manages construction-period mobility and protects commuter safety on critical transport links like Mount Poonamallee Road.
