The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Newly-laid roads in bad shape

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Sunday, Jul 05, 2009
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Newly-laid roads in bad shape

K. Lakshmi

Industrial unit owners in Ambattur estate blame service providers

— Photo: S.Thanthoni

Needs attention: A portion of the lane near Ashok Pillar Road, Ambattur Industrial Estate, which has been damaged .

CHENNAI: Barely a few months after they were widened and re-laid, providing a major facelift to the area, many of the roads in Ambattur Industrial Estate are in bad shape.

Industrial unit holders complain that blacktopped roads and culverts have been damaged by various service providers, who started digging work without permission.

The estate, which comprises nearly 1,200 units, was in dire need of improvements to basic facilities for over four decades. In response to demands from the unit holders, the work on improving infrastructure in the estate was entrusted to the Chennai Auto Ancillary Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Company (CAAIIUC). It is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) promoted by the Central and State governments for taking such infrastructural development works in the industrial estates at Ambattur, Thirumazhsai and Thirumudivakkam.

The work to re-lay the roads in the south and north phase of the Ambattur estate at the cost of Rs.24 crore began in 2007, said members of CAAIIUC. Depending on the space available, many roads were widened from 3.5 m to 6-8 m.

With several Information Technology firms setting up office in the estate, various service providers started seeking permission from the CAAIIUC for laying optic fibre cables.

However, of late, many of them did not adhere to the norms to lay cables on the shoulders of the road, sources in the SPV said.

One of the office-bearers of CAAIIUC said that a contractor of a telecom service provider began digging work on the lanes of Ashok Pillar Road on the south phase during night time even before getting permission. This resulted in damage to culverts and black topped portions of the roads, which were laid only a few months ago.

Ducts have been provided in every 100 m of the roads to avoid cuts for cable laying work. Besides desilting and constructing stormwater drain network covering 80 km, the existing culverts are also being refurbished at the cost of Rs. 5 crore. The work is set to be completed in three months.

CAAIIUC is also in the process of providing sewer connections to about 400 units. “We have decided to hold periodical co-ordination meetings to monitor the work. We have also warned the contractors that they would not be allowed to continue their project if they damage the infrastructure,” said a member of CAAIIUC.

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