Residents affected by rising road levels require action

Arappor Iyakkam members are demanding measures to prevent further rise in road levels at the Rajarathinam Stadium on Sunday. | Photo credit: R. RAGU

Residents whose houses are below road level, with some costing up to ₹40,000 to raise the floor, joined a protest called ‘Kelu TN Kelu’ (Listen/Ask TN), organized by anti-corruption organization Arappor Iyakkam, demanding steps to prevent further road leveling in Tamil Nadu.

At a protest held near the Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore on Sunday, the organization attributed the rise in road levels to contractors who failed to mill the damaged road surfaces before resurfacing them.

Repeated road surface treatment can leave buildings at a lower level than the road, causing stormwater and sewage to enter the site during heavy rain. Sunken manholes and mud pits are also a risk for riders on two-wheelers.

Affected residents and volunteers from several districts including Chennai, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Tirupattur, Erode, Madurai joined the protest.

A seven-point demand was raised at the event, including compensation for damaged properties. Public funds were also spent on raising walkways, manholes and electrical boxes to road level.

Key requirements

Key requirements included mandatory milling before road realignments, measurement of roadway elevations before and after work, and publication of measurements.

The organization also demanded photographic and video documentation of the excavation work, compensation of up to ₹40 lakh for each affected household and formation of an expert committee to deal with existing cases. It also called for action against contractors and officials responsible for the breach.

Arappor Iyakkam coordinators Jayaram Venkatesan, Radhakrishnan and Madhuvanthi and joint coordinator Zahir Hussain protested and urged the state government to issue instructions to all ministries carrying out road works.

Published – 25 Oct 2026 22:04 IST