While Cyclone Ditwah moved away without causing major inundation in Chennai's core areas, it left behind a trail of damaged infrastructure that severely disrupted daily life on Monday. Motorists and residents across several neighbourhoods faced significant hardship navigating waterlogged carriageways, battered roads, and encroached pavements.
Key Arterial Roads Bear the Brunt
The aftermath of the cyclone was starkly visible on major roads. On the crucial Anna Salai, a substantial 100-meter stretch near the YMCA, heading towards both Saidapet and Teynampet, was severely battered. Although temporary patchwork repairs were attempted, motorists found it extremely challenging to traverse this section during the rain.
Similar problems emerged on the Kodambakkam bridge, where a large pothole appeared. Despite initial patchwork efforts by the traffic police, persistent rainfall caused the repairs to loosen again, rendering the spot hazardous. S Raja, the assistant commissioner of traffic for T Nagar, confirmed that roads were also damaged at the 1st Main Road Junction. "Our personnel attended to it," he stated, adding that the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) must undertake permanent repairs once the rain subsides.
Residents Highlight Widespread Issues
The troubles were not confined to a few locations. On Arcot Road, commuters struggled with both the rain and a damaged road surface, a condition partly attributed to ongoing metro construction work. K Venkadesan, a resident of Puliyur Road, explained, "Some patchwork was done using gravel. However, they loosen during the showers, and the entire stretch becomes dangerous for motorists."
This pattern repeated in numerous other areas, including Harbour Ridge, Cemetery Road in Royapuram, the Thirumangalam flyover, and Stephenson Road. Adding to the civic woes, Sandhya Vedullapalli from the Federation of Anna Nagar Resident Associations pointed out additional problems in Anna Nagar East. "A few newly laid roads have been dug up for laying a gas pipeline. Besides, the quality of roads is bad in most parts of the city," she said. Officials from the Greater Chennai Corporation were not available for comment on these widespread issues.
Persistent Infrastructure Challenges Surface
The cyclone's passage has starkly highlighted Chennai's ongoing vulnerability to urban infrastructure failure during extreme weather. The reliance on temporary patchwork solutions, which quickly fail under continued rainfall, points to a need for more durable repair strategies. The disruption across diverse localities—from arterial Anna Salai to residential zones like Anna Nagar—underscores a city-wide concern that extends beyond immediate cyclone damage, touching on broader issues of road quality and coordinated utility work.
With key officials unavailable for comment, the responsibility for initiating comprehensive, permanent repairs rests with the civic body, leaving residents and daily commuters hoping for swift action to mend the battered road network.
