Around 20% of bus route roads in the 15 zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) have been damaged. Residents and motorists have raised concern about the risks associated with using these battered stretches.

According to a study done by the GCC, 2,350 out of 36,000 interior roads and 97 out of 488 bus route roads are in need of repairs and relaying. The damage to the roads is due to wear and tear, service cuts, and major civic works such as the laying of the sewer network, water pipelines, and stormwater drains.

Following complaints from residents, GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran issued administrative sanctions for Northeast monsoon-related activities to restore bad roads. The civic body will restore roads at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore — ₹5 lakh per ward — as part of Northeast monsoon-related preparedness activities. A total of ₹20 crore has been sanctioned for immediate road repair works, with ₹1 crore-₹1.25 crore per zone. The GCC will deploy 1,000 additional labourers for monsoon-related activities, including silt catch pit cleaning, desilting, and pruning of trees. A total of ₹15 lakh will go toward repairing electrical and mechanical equipment.

The civic body has received administrative sanction to hire 150 high-power and 600 tractor-bound motors to prevent inundation of roads. “This year, we have allocated ₹20 crore for immediate road repairs, ₹124 crore for road relaying owing to water supply and sewerage works, and ₹200 crore for regular annual road relaying works,” Dr. Sameeran said.

K.P. Subramanian, former professor of urban engineering at Anna University, said: “Bituminous roads deteriorate due to formation of potholes and cracks from the combined action of voluminous traffic, rainwater stagnation, inadequate or lack of stormwater drains, and shoddy construction and repairs.“

“Frequent roadcuts due to a lack of institutional coordination among government agencies such as the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, and the GCC, and defective restoration are the other causes for rapidly deteriorating roads. Lack of accountability for the substandard materials and construction are other important reasons. When roads fail, it causes traffic congestion, pollution, and accidents. Reforms to lay roads that last and for fixing accountability on those responsible for shoddy work are needed.”

Published - August 19, 2026 05:30 am IST