Patients stuck as manhole work hinders vehicle movement

Ambulance drivers avoid the pathway. Only a few autorickshaw drivers are willing to negotiate it

Slow progress in the construction of more than a dozen manholes along Karuneegar Street, off Poonamallee High Road in Nerkundram, by Chennai Metrowater is putting COVID-19 patients and their caregivers to considerable hardship. Vehicles, particularly ambulances, cannot negotiate the narrow pathway. In progress for many weeks now, the manhole work is only half complete. A majority of the motorists cannot use the one-kilometre-long stretch, which connects several residential colonies including Kanniamman Nagar, CDN Nagar, Natesan Nagar, Nessammal Nagar, Velu Nagar, Seemathamman Nagar, Anbu Nagar and Koyambedu with PH Road near the Maduravoyal police station.