A damaged bus shelter on Dr MGR Salai, also known as Kodambakkam High Road, in Nungambakkam has remained unattended for about 20 days, raising concerns about the safety of pedestrians and motorists using the busy stretch.
The shelter roof and several supporting pillars are in poor condition, with some pillars reportedly leaning. A portion of the structure has been tied with ropes as a temporary measure after the shelter was bent in an impact. Residents fear the damaged structure could collapse and injure people passing nearby.
The shelter is located close to a temple and a fair price shop, areas that see regular movement by local residents. Employees of nearby information technology companies and shops also use the footpath along this section of the road, increasing the number of pedestrians exposed to the damaged structure.
A senior Chennai Corporation official told DT Next that a case had been registered in connection with the incident and that police had identified the person responsible for damaging the shelter. “Safety measures have been taken to prevent people from approaching the damaged structure,” the official said.
The official said the structure had been temporarily secured with ropes after the impact. However, the report did not specify when the shelter would be removed, repaired or replaced. The absence of a permanent intervention has continued to concern residents who use the road and footpath daily.
The Corporation’s response indicates that the immediate focus has been on restricting access to the damaged structure and identifying the cause of the damage. The police case is expected to establish responsibility for the incident, while the condition of the shelter leaves the civic agency with the task of making the site safe for pedestrians.
The damage has not affected bus operations because buses are not operated on this particular stretch of Dr MGR Salai. The safety concern is therefore concentrated around the shelter itself, the adjoining footpath and the movement of people near the temple, fair price shop and commercial establishments.
The next steps are the implementation of permanent safety measures and action on the damaged shelter after the police case progresses.
