Poor waste management at Chennai’s Red Cross Road increases health risk

An eyesore: Red Cross Road is a busy stretch. Many tourists have been visiting the road. But its maintenance is poor. Garbage is not cleared daily and traffic congestion has increased at rush hours.

Red Cross Road, formerly known as Montieth Road, is a busy stretch with many commercial and residential buildings. Residents complain about poor maintenance, traffic congestion, and garbage dumping.

M. Sekar, a resident, says Greater Chennai Corporation workers, who desilted the storm water drains months ago, failed to remove the bags of silt placed along the stretch. “The person who used to sweep the stretch has retired. There is no one to sweep one side of the road. Many tourists have been visiting the road, which is crowded,” he said.

Inadequate manpower

Ward 61 councillor Fatima Ahamed Muzaffer says she has raised the issue of poor waste management on Red Cross Road at the Corporation Council meetings. “The manpower for cleaning the roads is not adequate. But Corporation officials say the zone will get a private conservancy operator soon. Let them give me more manpower. The road is important because of the frequent visit of dignitaries to Egmore Museum. Even the Chief Minister visits the museum. Many visitors frequent the stretch from other parts of the city,” she says.

Owing to an increase in the number of food kiosks, a large number of people visit the road. Garbage generation is also high. The traffic congestion has increased at rush hours because of the increase in the number of visitors. The bins placed near Ambassador Pallava Hotel are not cleared every day. As a result, piles of garbage have been an eyesore along the road. The road marking at the junction of Rukmani Lakshmipathi Salai is faulty, leading to minor accidents near the roundabout.

Mechanical sweeping

Residents have also demanded mechanical sweeping of the road and redesigning of the stretch to facilitate better pedestrian movement.

The Corporation constructed new storm water drains on Red Cross Road a few years ago to mitigate flooding. However, the design and alignment of the drains were altered to prevent felling of trees. Owing to the change in the alignment, the stretch has become unsafe for pedestrians. The residents have demanded modifications to the storm water drains and creation of better pedestrian infrastructure.

Residents have also requested the Corporation and the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to reduce the risk of sewage overflow on the road.