Students navigate obstacle course to reach school at Ponmar Junction

Chennai: Arun Kumar nearly lost control of his bike while navigating heavy traffic at Ponmar Junction on Medavakkam-Mambakkam Main Road. The 16-year-old resident of Madurapakkam and his friends cycle more than three kilometres daily to reach their school near the junction, facing similar challenges amid chaotic road conditions.
The junction has been a persistent trouble spot since last year, with deteriorating road conditions and poor traffic management making commuting hazardous. Though stormwater drain work was completed in June 2024, the bitumen used for patching roads wore out, leaving behind uneven surfaces. The stretch sees more than 6,000 school students and rising heavy vehicle traffic daily, raising concerns that the junction could become an accident-prone zone if left unattended.
Residents report frequent accidents. "At least five people skid and fall here every day due to the potholes and poor patches," said Mahendran T, a resident of Mettu Street, Perumbakkam. He said that there are no speed breakers or signboards urging caution here.
Traffic congestion during peak hours has also worsened. "School students often struggle to pass through, and parents find it difficult to drop them off on time," said Joseph Raj S, another resident.
Complaints were raised with the local panchayat president, but no action was taken. "When the stormwater drain work ended, the roads weren't relaid. They were just patched with poor-quality bitumen," he added.
Attempts to reach the Highways Department for a response went unanswered.