Highways Department begins repair of Chennai roads - The HinduPublished - October 27, 2026 01:05 pm IST - CHENNAIRoad work undertaken near Vijayanagar bus stop | Photo Credit: Special ArrangementThe Tamil Nadu Highways Department has kept 5,000 bags of cold mix ready for repairing roads that have been damaged by the rains in Chennai the previous week.The damage toMajor Mukund Varadarajan Road (Velachery-Tambaram Road) has been given priority, as the road cut made by the CMWSSB to lay a water pipeline of 2-metre diameter over a stretch of 800 metres had to be restored.Almost all roads maintained by the Highways Department have suffered some kind of damage due to water stagnation or rainwater falling from Chennai Metro Rail pillars. In some places, the top layer has worn off, while in others, potholes have developed.Gowri, a resident of Thoraipakkam, said that a few stretches on Rajiv Gandhi Salai beyond Sholinganallur were in a bad condition. “Movement of vehicles is slowing down considerably due to the bad patches. Schoolchildren are the worst affected as they have to reach their institutions early in the day when it is still raining,” she pointed out.Kumar, a driver, said that the Kamakshi Hospital junction was in urgent need of repairs, given the volume of vehicles that pass through the junction to reach Madipakkam, Tambaram, or Velachery. “Stretches of the Velachery-Tambaram Road in Pallikaranai have also been damaged extensively. The damage is evident in places where widening has not been completed and the road is narrow. There is no way for the rainwater to drain away, as these locations do not have stormwater drains,” he pointed out. Land acquisition has been moving at a slow pace because some property owners have approached the courts.Of the 650-km network of roads under Chennai City roads, 43 km have suffered damage. Places like Moovarasampet and Nanmangalam, which lack stormwater drains, have suffered significant damage. Sources in the Highways Department said they were taking up repairs wherever necessary. “We have mobilised the men and machinery needed for the repairs. We are waiting for a dry spell before the cold mix is used. Temporary pothole-filling work is also under way,” the source added.Published - October 27, 2026 01:05 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }