Illegal overhead cables along important stretches, including Jawaharlal Nehru Main Road, Chennai-Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road, Thirumangalam-Ambattur Main Road and Ambattur Estate Road, have been removed by Corporation officials..
The recent move came after the failure of telecom and cable television service providers to get necessary permission from the civic agency before installing the cables along busy roads, despite repeated warnings from Corporation officials.
As per the norms, each service provider must get a licence from the Corporation after paying the annual fee. Accordingly, Corporation officials issue identity cards with specific colours to licence holders, to separate them illegal operators.
The drive will facilitate pedestrian movement.
“Despite the labourious nature of the task , we are determined to clear these illegal cables from city roads. As part of the effort, we have begun work in various parts of the city including Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Mogappair, Villivakkam, Kolathur and Perambur,” said a Corporation official.
The team was able to remove illegal cables measuring 1,500 metres from the Ambattur-Thirumangalm Main Road. A similar drive will be undertaken on CTH Road, J.N. Main Road between Thirumangalam and Padi and on Ambattur Estate Road soon.
Further, the Corporation officials said the drive would not be restricted to busy stretches, but extended to the lanes in the neighbourhood, the rationale being that in most residential areas, such as those in Anna Nagar, Mogappiar, Thirumanglam, Kolathur, Villivakkam, Kilpauk, Ayyanavaram, Perambur and Integral Coach Factory (ICF), usage of cables is high.
Interior roads and lanes that have come under the scanner include Kavimani Road, Kallikuppam Road and Meenambedu Road in Ambattur.
“Removal of such illegal cables is a welcome measure as most of them are not firmly installed and can be seen hanging between poles,” said K. Manikam, a motorist on CTH Road in Villivakkam.
