Chennai's 21-km Highway Remains in Darkness, Endangering Daily Commuters and Students
A critical 21-kilometer stretch of highway connecting GST Road at Vandalur to Kelambakkam on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) in Chennai continues to operate without functional streetlights, creating significant safety hazards for thousands of daily users. This vital corridor serves a large population of students, working professionals, and regular commuters who navigate the pitch-dark road during early mornings and late nights.
Funding Crisis Leaves Panchayats Unable to Pay Power Bills
The primary reason for this prolonged darkness stems from a financial deadlock between multiple local panchayats and the state highways department. Seven panchayats including Venkagadamangalam, Mambakkam, Pudupakkam, Melakottaiyur, Padur, Kelambakkam and Thaiyyur share jurisdiction over different sections of this highway. None of these local bodies possess sufficient funds to cover the substantial electricity bills required to maintain street lighting along the entire stretch.
Thiruporur VCK MLA S S Balaji has raised this critical infrastructure issue multiple times during panchayat union meetings. "The highways department did install some streetlights in certain sections previously, but when the panchayat failed to pay the mounting electricity bills, the entire system collapsed," explained the MLA. "The poles and lighting fixtures eventually became damaged beyond repair, and the highways authorities have refused to reinstall them without a sustainable payment solution."
Tourist Destinations and Educational Hubs Remain in Darkness
Ironically, this poorly lit highway serves some of Chennai's most important destinations. The corridor provides access to:
- Vandalur Zoo, one of Tamil Nadu's premier wildlife attractions
- The Forest Genetic Tree Park, an important conservation area
- Numerous educational institutions housing thousands of students
- Major routes to Puducherry, Mamallapuram and coastal districts
Despite these significant destinations, the highway has remained without proper illumination for several years. Some private institutions have taken matters into their own hands by installing lower-power LED lights near their premises, but these provide minimal coverage for the broader stretch.
Infrastructure Handover Creates Maintenance Dilemma
Highways divisional engineer Dhanaseelan explained the systemic problem: "Our department constructs the necessary infrastructure and officially hands it over to local bodies for ongoing maintenance. In this case, the amenities become completely unusable when panchayats cannot pay the electricity bills." The engineer emphasized that local bodies are responsible for all maintenance aspects, including annual maintenance contracts and regular bill payments.
Hari Bhaskar, Block Development Officer of Thiruporur village panchayat union, confirmed the financial constraints: "As individual entities, local bodies simply don't have the resources to fund street lighting along an entire highway. We've installed common high masts in non-highway areas upon request, but the highway lighting requires a different solution."
Pedestrian Safety Reaches Critical Levels
The absence of streetlights compounds other infrastructure deficiencies along this stretch. The highway completely lacks proper pavements, forcing pedestrians to walk directly alongside fast-moving vehicles in near-total darkness. Hostel students returning late from libraries or part-time jobs face particular risks as they navigate the unlit road.
V Navaneethan, a concerned resident, described the dangerous conditions: "The road becomes absolutely pitch dark after sunset. Pedestrians must rely entirely on vehicle headlights to see where they're walking. This is completely unacceptable for a major highway that connects Chennai to important tourist destinations and coastal districts."
Both MLA Balaji and engineer Dhanaseelan agree that only government intervention can break this impasse. The MLA has specifically requested that power be transferred to the Thiruporur panchayat union, which possesses better financial resources to manage the lighting system. Meanwhile, the highways engineer has called for either dedicated funding from government departments or a comprehensive policy solution to address similar situations across the state.
As discussions continue without resolution, thousands of Chennai residents continue to risk their safety daily on this critical but dark highway corridor, highlighting systemic gaps in urban infrastructure planning and inter-departmental coordination.
