The Chennai Corporation has set September 30 as the deadline for road cuts by other service departments

Damaged section of road at Nandanam in Teynampet zone. | Photo Credit: R. Aishwaryaa

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has set September 30 as the deadline for road demolition by other service departments and has started work to restore major road cuts.

Road cuttings will not be permitted after the deadline and GCC requires all line departments to complete excavation by this date. If the onset of monsoon is delayed, the date will be reviewed based on the prevailing situation, a senior official told The Hindu. Otherwise, the civic body will allow subsequent road cuts only after December.

According to the GCC data, the total number of road works on inland and bus roads is 6,812. Of these, the GCC has granted permission for 4,362 road cuts as of July 1, 2026. Similarly, so far the civic association has completely restored 2,831 roads for automobile traffic. Currently, 501 works are still ongoing in various line departments, including the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) and the electricity department, according to the data.

“Line departments like CMWSSB are solely responsible for restoring minor cuts made to some domestic service connections. An inter-departmental coordination meeting is held every Tuesday under Joint Commissioner (Works), GCC to monitor the progress,” the official said.

Another senior official said that requests for permission to demolish roads have been increasing on a daily basis recently. This is due to the ban on new work that is not allowed due to the model code of conduct during the assembly elections followed by small spells of rain in the city. The cost of these operations varies from lane to lane and is managed through funds released at the respective zonal and ward levels, he said.

Uneven sections

Some roads in the city, including key locations such as Kilpauk and Teynampet, continue to have several potholes, causing problems mainly for pregnant women and the elderly. The official said this was due to temporary repairs made with plain cement concrete, which causes slight differences in road level.

Improperly restored road near Kannangi Nagar in Sholinganallur zone. | Photo Credit: R. Aishwaryaa

“This temporary restoration is not subject to a third-party audit. GCC engineers will be directed to review these temporary restorations to ensure proper roadway levels are maintained. The only solution to avoid unevenness is a full restoration, involving milling and complete resurfacing. This work requires a third-party audit to ensure better quality. However, it requires six to eight months to complete. Traffic and pedestrian management during implementation remains challenging.”

Published – 02 Jul 2026 23:43 IST