Highways Department carrying out repairs at Thillai Ganga Nagar subway

Highways Research Station team investigates stagnant water in Thillai Ganga Nagar subway, plans permanent repairs to prevent accidents.

In an effort to understand why the Thillai Ganga Nagar subway always has stagnant water, a Highways Research Station (HRS) team is carrying out a study at the spot. The subway has several places where water from underground flows onto the road.

“The HRS team visited the subway. We are awaiting their report. Following that, we will carry out permanent repairs,” a source in the Highways Department said. While waiting for the report, the department has been doing some grouting to try and stop the water from bubbling up. So far, 20 such points have been closed using a polymer foam.

The wearing coat has worn out over the years. “We have removed it in portions, and water proofing is being carried out. Since the water level is very high, and with water from neighbouring areas being let into the subway, there is always stagnant water. We have received complaints of the surface being slippery. We want to fix that as well,” he said.

Iyappan of Nanganallur, who takes the subway daily, recalled how he had met with an accident in the subway six months ago and suffered multiple fractures and bruises. “The surface was very slippery due to the constant water stagnation. Accidents happen quite frequently, especially in the case of two-wheelers,” he said.

A retired engineer of the Highways Department said that there were five vehicular subways connecting various localities in the south to the GST Road and all of them get flooded every monsoon. “There was a proposal to replace the Thillai Ganga Nagar subway with a road overbridge. But it is yet to see the light of the day. It is high-time these subways were closed and high-level bridges come up in their place,” he said.