Residents seek to fix Venkatappan Road at Ward 29 in Salem Corporation

Commuters and local residents of Venkatappan Road have urged the Highways Department and the Salem Corporation to repair the damaged road.

Venkatappan Road is an important connecting road from Salem Government Hospital to Pal Market. There are connecting roads to Shevapet in the locality and many wooden shops and electrical shops are functioning here. To access these shops, hundreds of people utilise Venkatappan Road on a daily basis. But the road was severely damaged at multiple places in the stretch and people coming in two-wheelers are heavily affected.

The BJP State Environmental Protection Cell president, R.P. Gopinath, who resides in Ward 29, said that for the past three years, Venkatappan Road has remained damaged. The road connecting Venkatappan Road and Shevpat has also been damaged in many places.

“On behalf of the BJP, we had submitted petitions many times but no action was taken. Many people, especially in the night, fall on the road as they are unable to identify the potholes,” he said. The Highways Department and the Corporation should act immediately to fix the damaged roads and also the connecting roads like Devangapuram extension, Mr. Gopinath added.

Ward 29 councillor K. Girija said, “I have submitted a letter to the Corporation to lay the road. Depending on the availability of funds, roads are being laid. Soon, these connecting roads will be fixed.” The councillor added that through the Corporation, the issue will be highlighted to the Highways Department to fix the damaged roads.

When contacted, officials at the Highways Department said that they would look into the issue.