Inordinate delay in the completion of a stormwater drain and channel work on Brick Kiln Road in Purasawalkam has reduced the reasonably wide stretch into a narrow pathway.
On a portion of the stretch near the junction of Purasawalkam High (PH) Road and Brick Kiln Road, channel work is yet to begin. However, huge unused concrete slabs meant for channel work lie abandoned on the stretch.
As a result of this, the 60-feet-wide bitumen-topped road has turned sandy .
“Travelling on the stretch is a nightmare especially at night as the total space available for road users including pedestrians and motorists is small,” said K. Venket, a resident of Purasawalkam.
The stormwater drain work on the stretch is part of the Rs. 155.13 crore project funded under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme that would link the Otteri Nullah and Cooum river.
The new channel would discharge excess rain water from the Otteri Nullah during monsoon to the Cooum river to prevent flooding in Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Colony, Ayanavaram, Perambur, Otteri, Anna Nagar North, Kilpauk, Purasawalkam, Villivakkam, Pulianthope, Ganesapuram, Kosapet and Pattalam.
Work on the storm water drain work is being undertaken by the Corporation, while on the channel by the Water Resource Department (WRD), a wing of PWD.
Brick Kiln Road is the shortest route to reach Ayanavaram, Otteri, Perambur and other northern areas of the city from the central part such as Chetpet, Nungambakkam and T.Nagar and vice versa.
Illegal parking adds to the mess on the stretch as they occupy a portion of the stretch including the bus shelter. “The street lights do not work properly and motorists and pedestrians have to be careful that they do not fall in the trench dug up for the work,” said S.Madhumitha, a resident of Kilpauk.
Corporation officials said that the private contractor is delaying the work due to the rising cost of sand and cement. “Steps will be taken to complete the work and re-lay the stretch,” said a Corporation official.
