Chennai: Some of the city’s busiest arterial roads, including Usman Road, Nelson Manickam Road and Perambur Barracks Road, are set to come under the state highways department, with Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) initiating the transfer of 100km of roads to upgrade quality, streamline maintenance and improve coordination on flood mitigation work. Urban planners say this could make it harder for residents to hold officials accountable for road maintenance.In the first phase, GCC has given its concurrence for the transfer of 75km of roads covering 38 stretches across eight zones. The remaining 25km will be handed over in the next phase. The identified stretches include Venkatanarayana Road, Duraisamy Road, New Avadi Road, Poonamallee High Road and MGR Road–Arcot Road.The transfer is aimed at resolving hurdles arising from roads being split between GCC and the highways department. Corporation officials said one agency sometimes maintained a stretch while the other maintained its continuation, resulting in inconsistent stormwater drain widths that affected rainwater flow. In some cases, wider drains along highways-maintained stretches narrowed where they met corporation-maintained sections, creating bottlenecks during heavy rain and increasing flood risks.GCC currently maintains 488 bus route roads covering 418.56km, with widths ranging from 50ft to 150ft. It also maintains 35,978 interior roads spanning 5,653.89km, with widths ranging from 15ft to 40ft. The highways department maintains 60 roads covering 270km within the city, with widths ranging from 50ft to 225ft.A similar exchange took place in 2023, when 19 roads spanning 35km across seven zones were transferred from the highways department to the corporation. In return, six bus route roads covering 7.5km in three zones were handed over to the highways department.GCC deputy commissioner (works) S Saravanan said the corporation had conveyed its concurrence to the govt. “A GO will be issued, after which the highways department will take over the identified 75km of roads,” he said.Urban planner and retired Anna University professor of urban engineering K P Subramanian said the move could weaken public accountability. “It is easier for people to hold elected representatives such as councillors and the mayor accountable when roads are under the corporation’s control. The civic body has the manpower and resources to address local issues. When roads are transferred to the highways department, which is largely managed by bureaucrats, it may become difficult for residents to hold officials directly accountable. GCC should reconsider the decision,” he said.