Accidents on the rise in vehicular subways and flyovers owing to poor maintenance, water seepage

Chennai residents demand better maintenance of subways and flyovers to prevent accidents caused by poor design and water seepage.

Residents in many zones of Chennai Corporation have complained about frequent accidents in subways and flyovers owing to poor maintenance, faulty design and deterioration of road pavement caused by water seepage.

For instance, 10 accidents were reported on a single day this week in Korattur subway as motorists reportedly went on a skid on a slippery concrete pavement as they were negotiating a sharply curved stretch of the subway where water seepage was more. 

K.G.Murali, a resident of a locality near Korattur subway, said he had seen motorists and children with bleeding injuries being taken to the hospital after accidents in the subway. As civic officials were unable to resolve the issue, residents have started sharing videos of motorists with bleeding injuries on social media to sensitise local residents about the risk.

Another resident Syed Nazir said his father’s friend died in a road accident in Menambedu bridge. “Civic officials have visited the location and spoken about faulty design and water seepage but the solution to the problem has not been found yet. The residents have demanded proper maintenance by officials of Chennai Corporation and other agencies to prevent such accidents,” he said.

Another resident, whose family member died on December 7, 2023 in an accident in Purasawalkam flyover during the north east monsoon, said he stopped taking the route after the incident. The woman who died in the in Purasawalkam flyover was an employee of the Madras High Court. Maintenance of many subways in the city have been poor during the north east monsoon, complained residents.

Ward 99 councillor Parithi Ellamsurithi said the road pavement in Gengu Reddy subway in Egmore had also been deteriorating, leading to a rise in accidents.  “Water seepage is a perennial problem in subways,” he said.

Anna University former professor of Urban Engineering K. P. Subramanian said skid resistance, the adequate friction between the vehicle tyre and the road surface is a crucial factor to prevent accidents caused due to slippery surfaces, especially in rainy weather.