Residents Protest Rising Road Levels

Residents from several parts of Tamil Nadu staged a protest demanding immediate action to prevent roads from being raised repeatedly without proper planning. The protest was organised by anti-corruption organisation Arappor Iyakkam under the name ‘Kelu T.N. Kelu’, meaning ‘Listen, Tamil Nadu, Listen’. The participants highlighted the difficulties faced by homeowners whose houses are now lower than the surrounding road levels.

The protest was held near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore, Chennai, on Sunday. Residents said that raising road levels had created serious problems for homes, shops and other buildings. Some homeowners may have to spend up to ₹40 lakh to raise their floors to match the road level, placing a heavy financial burden on families.

According to the protesters, one of the main reasons for the problem is the way road repair and resurfacing work is carried out. They alleged that some contractors lay new layers of road material without properly removing the damaged or old surface. As a result, road levels continue to rise over time, while nearby buildings remain at their original height.

This difference in levels can create serious problems during the rainy season. When roads become higher than the entrances of homes, rainwater can easily flow into houses and cause flooding. Residents may face damage to their belongings, walls and other parts of their properties. The protesters said that ordinary families should not be forced to spend large amounts of money to correct problems caused by poor roadwork.

The participants also raised concerns about public safety. When roads are raised without properly adjusting nearby infrastructure, manholes and silt traps can become sunken below the road surface. These uneven surfaces can be dangerous for motorists, particularly two-wheeler riders, who may lose control while travelling over them.

Residents and volunteers from several districts, including Chennai, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Tirupattur, Erode and Madurai, took part in the demonstration. They called on the Tamil Nadu government to introduce clear rules and ensure that road construction and repair projects are carried out properly.

Arappor Iyakkam presented a seven-point list of demands. One of its main requests was to make road milling compulsory before resurfacing. Road milling involves removing part of the existing road surface before laying a new layer. This can help prevent road levels from rising unnecessarily.

The organisation also demanded that road levels be measured before and after construction work. It called for these measurements to be made publicly available so that residents can check whether contractors have followed the required standards. The group further asked the authorities to publish photographs and videos of roadwork to improve transparency and accountability.

Another major demand was compensation for households affected by the rising road levels. The protesters sought compensation of up to ₹40 lakh for each affected household, depending on the damage and costs involved. They also called for the formation of an expert committee to study the issue and recommend long-term solutions.

The group pointed out that public money was being spent on raising footpaths, manholes and electrical boxes to match the increased road levels. It questioned why the problem was being allowed to continue instead of addressing the reasons behind the repeated rise in road height.

The protesters also demanded strict action against contractors and government officials found responsible for negligence. They said that clear guidelines should be introduced for road construction and resurfacing projects across Tamil Nadu to prevent similar problems in the future.

Arappor Iyakkam coordinators, including Jayaram Venkatesan, Radhakrishnan, Madhuvanthi and Zahir Hussain, led the protest. They urged the government to respond to residents’ concerns and ensure that public infrastructure projects do not create additional financial and safety problems for the people.

The demonstration highlighted the need for better road planning, transparent construction practices and proper monitoring. Residents said that roads should be improved without putting nearby homes at risk or forcing homeowners to bear the cost of correcting avoidable construction problems.