The corporation-constructed storm water drain culvert on Sanganoor Road in Ganapathy is damaged. A portion of the concrete surface on the northern side of the structure had caved in.
The difference in height between the caved portion and the other side of the culvert is big enough to challenge the riding skills of motorists as there is nothing to caution them. The residents there planted a tree branch to warn the motorists. But now that is gone.
A few km away, on Bharathiar Road in Maniakarampalayam, the centre median is damaged in that there is a cavity on the surface. The residents there moved a nearby barricade to place it across the damaged portion to warn the road users. On Gandhipuram 8th Cross Street, the incline tapering off from the culvert is completely damaged that motorists will have to land on the road with a thud. A few other culverts on the Gandhipuram cross streets are also damaged.
In Selvapuram, the surface of a culvert has chipped off exposing the iron rods that hold the concrete together. The residents there had taken up the issue with the Corporation.
The sources say that the at many places in the city, the storm water drain construction is poor. And culvert being a part thereof, is no different.
The Corporation took up storm water drain construction a few years ago across the city under the Central Government’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme and completed it only recently.
In Siddhapudur and Avarampalayam, the storm water drains were damaged but the Corporation repaired those after complains, said U. Savithri, a former Councillor.
Sources in the Corporation said that they would address the issue by identifying them and then by repairing the damaged culverts.
