Chennai Corporation orders milling before road resurfacing to curb level rises

The Chennai Corporation has issued directives to its engineering teams mandating the milling of existing bituminous layers prior to road resurfacing work across the city. The initiative seeks to address the longstanding issue of roads rising progressively in elevation due to continuous addition of fresh bituminous layers.

Chennna Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran emphasized that the practice of repeatedly adding fresh layers of bitumen while raising road levels must be discontinued. The approach, he noted, creates multiple civic challenges and compromises drainage infrastructure, creating waterlogging problems and affecting adjacent properties.

Under the new directive, engineers must remove existing bituminous material through mechanical milling before applying fresh layers. This method maintains consistent road elevations and prevents the cumulative rise that has plagued many city streets.

The Corporation expects the implementation of this protocol to improve road quality while protecting drainage systems and reducing complications for residents. The directive represents a shift in the Corporation's road maintenance strategy, prioritizing proper resurfacing procedures over the less demanding but problematic practice of simply adding new layers atop existing surfaces.