A conflict between elected representatives and a highway contractor over poor road quality in Chengalpet has led the Highways Research Station (HRS) to conduct quality tests.
The issue traces back to last year when residents of Cheyyur voiced concerns about a 5-km road being laid during the rainy season, raising doubts about the mix’s ability to bind correctly.
Some residents pointed out that the contractor had not milled the stretch properly, and the road’s increased height could cause rainwater to flood nearby homes. Despite the road’s 3.7 crore construction cost, it became uneven within weeks.
In July, local MLA M Babu inspected the site following residents’ complaints and documented the road’s poor condition.
State highway authorities instructed the contractor to resolve the issue before the monsoon, given that the road connects the key neighbourhoods of Agaram and Puthiran Kottai.
However, the contractor sought police protection through the Madras High Court to complete the work, prompting the MLA to file a complaint against both the contractor and highway officials for allegedly colluding in laying the substandard road.
To resolve the matter, a team from HRS, the state agency responsible for assessing road quality, conducted tests at six locations to check if the thickness norms were adhered to.
“Ideally, the core pieces should measure 50 mm thick. However, in areas near the local Adi Dravida colony, the cores were found to be only 20 mm thick in some spots and over 65 mm in others,” said Babu. The contractor was notably absent to provide any explanation.
When contacted, HRS official M Saravanan’s office declined to share the test results or clarify if immediate relaying of the road would be recommended. The court will hear the case filed by the contractor on October 3.
