Potholes pose dangers at Koyambedu

CHENNAI: The road that was laid to facilitate transport to and from the Koyambedu Market is now posing danger to commuters. While years of neglect by the authorities had worsened the condition of the road, the few spells of rain that the city witnessed in the past week has created havoc. The road, now filled with gaping potholes, has water stagnating on the surface. Pedestrians slipped and fell into manholes along the road in front of the market, that were opened up to clear the stagnant water.The road, named E-road, is used by hundreds of vehicles, including two-wheelers, autos and mini-lorries, everyday. Heavy traffic is witnessed between 3am and 8am for transporting vegetables, fruits and flowers to and from the market. The metro rail work in progress, in the middle of the road, has not helped the cause either.“The condition of the road has been like this even before the metro work started here. The situation is very dangerous for commuters as they are falling into the pits,” said, D Mohan, a vegetable vendor in the market.There are wide pits on the road and more than 10 manholes of the storm water drain have been kept open along the road margin. During downpours, the road gets submerged, leaving  the potholes and open manholes invisible to commuters and pedestrians. Consequently, many vegetable buyers who walk to the market have fallen into the manholes and suffered injuries. Vehicles take over half an hour to cross this half kilometre stretch during peak hours of the market.“Hundreds of people are coming to market by walk. They walk along the sides of the road because of heavy traffic. At least 20 people fell into the manholes and got injured four days ago when it was raining. Even electric cables that got exposed outside and submerged in flood water pose danger to customers,” said N Gowthaman, another vegetable merchant.Private omnibuses also use this road to move in and out of the private bus stand located opposite the market. Petitions regarding this have been given to the Koyambedu Market Management Committee over seven months ago, but no action has been taken yet.“The metro rail work will take years to complete. Until then, our fate is to bear with this condition. None responds to our grievance even after many people getting injured,” lamented P Ambika, a regular customer at the market.