From a car plunging into a sinkhole on Old Mahabalipuram Road to a woman who recently died of electrocution in an open pit in Anna Nagar — Chennai faces perennial infrastructure issues that endanger public safety. Between 2017 and 2021, Tamil Nadu has witnessed 2,499 pothole-related accidents, leading to the death of 532 people. The state ranks third in the country for the number of registered vehicles, according to 2026 data. As more vehicles hit the road, shoddy roads can become death traps for motorists. Every year, the Greater Chennai Corporation works towards monsoon preparedness, but potholes invariably reappear. Residents…

For B Kanchana, who frequents Chennai Beach Station on the Rapid Transit System (MRTS), train travel in the morning is comfortable and safe. But the platform itself is in dire need of renovation, lacks signboards or announcements and makes her feel vulnerable, says the administrative professional. Like Kanchana, residents and daily commuters point out the severe neglect across MRTS stations. Safety concerns peaked after the recent death of 55-year-old V Vijaya, whose body was found in a disused room at Thirumayilai MRTS station in October, a stark reminder of the hazards lurking in these public spaces. In Part 1 of…