Residents have reported issues with road height violations on 42 roads in Chennai and 203 stretches across other districts using GPS-tagged photos showing increased road levels.
Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption group, has gathered this information through crowdsourced data. Over 157 volunteers documented 245 instances of road height violations across the state using GPS-tagged photos. Roads in areas like C.P. Ramasamy Road, T.T.K. Road, and R.A. Puram have been particularly problematic.
Jayaram Venkatesan, Arappor Iyakkam’s convener, highlighted that in places like Mugalivakkam, homes are now one to two feet lower than the road level due to these issues. He emphasized that Chennai is among the worst affected areas and called for urgent government action to enforce road-milling rules and protect homes.
Venkatesan explained that raising road heights causes flooding as houses become lower relative to the roads. This also leads to unnecessary expenses on projects like platform elevation, manhole repairs, and silt drain adjustments. Elevated roads disrupt stormwater drainage systems, directing rainwater into nearby homes during monsoons. Homes previously requiring steps up now need steps down, posing hazards for seniors and those with disabilities.
Additionally, unmilled roads create dangerous sunken areas around manholes and utility chambers, often causing accidents involving two-wheelers. The report noted that residents are forced to spend large sums, sometimes up to ₹40 lakh, to elevate their homes to avoid flooding. They have also demanded financial compensation from the government for these issues.