Although the opening of the IT Park has triggered a real estate boom in and around Navalpattu in the city, many of the residential colonies in the area have been sorely lacking civic amenities.
The situation is bad not just in the upcoming residential colonies but also in well established localities such as Anna Nagar phase II, Police Colony and MGR Nagar, which have been in existence for several years. Local residents rue that Navalpattu and Kumbakudi panchayat, under which these colonies come, have been unable to keep pace with the development to create the necessary infrastructure. These residential areas are the main source of revenue for the panchayats, but the funds are not ploughed back for development of amenities, they allege.
The poor condition of the interior roads and lanes in most of these colonies has been one of the major grouses of the residents. “The road from the Anna Nagar Main Road to the Police Colony, a stretch of about four to five km, is in a pathetic condition and we are facing an ordeal every day,” says N.Annamalai, a resident of Anna Nagar.
Residents are eagerly awaiting the Highways Department to lay a link road from the Pudukottai Highway to the IT Park. This would give them an easy and proper access road. Though the project has already been sanctioned the Highways Department is yet to commence the work, residents regret.
The situation is particularly bad in Anna Nagar phase II, says S.Karunakaran, president of the Anna Nagar (Phase II) Residents Welfare Association.
“We have petitioned the authorities repeatedly and even under the Right to Information Act. But there has been no improvement in the situation,” he says referring to the condition of the roads in the locality. The road to the Police Colony from the Anna Nagar Main Road is not fit for even two wheelers. Mr.Karunakaran sees the problem mainly in allocation of funds by the panchayat.
Another major problem plaguing the residents of the area is the inadequate public transport and the absence of bus shelters at the Mathur Junction along the Pudukottai Highway.
“Between 7.30 and 9 in the morning, there is literally a scramble for buses. A large number of people from the areas work in educational institutions and industries further up the Pudukottai Highway. Most of the mofussil buses are already packed to capacity when they reach this point and do not halt. The frequency of the K1 town service operating between Central Bus Stand and Keeranur is too inadequate,” says Mr.Annamalai pleading for introducing more services on the route.
Many other residents, who commute to the city every day, say that they face the same problem as many mofussil buses do not halt here. “Establishing a two-wheeler parking lot at the junction is also a necessity,” says Mr.Karunakaran.
In the absence of bus shelters, a large number of commuters could be seen waiting along the highway during the peak hours. The scramble for buses among commuters has also converted the junction to an accident-prone zone, say residents.
