Metrowater has begun work to repair portions of Anna Main Road in K.K. Nagar that collapsed several times in the past month.
Portions of the road, which links K.K. Nagar to areas such as Nesapakkam and Ramapuram, caved in thrice in November following heavy rains.
The stretches were barricaded and the ditches were temporarily closed. Metrowater has now begun work to repair the damage.
Metrowater officials said work to reconstruct the manhole that collapsed on Thiruvalluvar Street, K.K.Nagar, is complete.
“We are also attending to leaks in the sewer pipeline on Munusamy Salai and Alagiriswamy Salai-Anna Main Road junction and near MGR Nagar market,” said an official.
After completing the work in a week, Metrowater plans to launch a study to identify spots on the same stretch that need rectification or pipeline replacement to prevent such accidents in the future.
Corporation officials said Metrowater needs to finish the work completely so the roads don’t collapse. The roads caved in because the soil beneath them was sucked in by the hollow created as a result of water seepage from old pipes, which then loosens the soil in a perimeter around the leak, a senior official said.
Utility lines have created a problem puncturing into sewer lines as well, something that is not uncommon in other parts of the city too, he said.
Residents of K.K. Nagar and M.G.R. Nagar said the road has been experiencing pipeline bursts since the late 90s. G. Selva, CPI (M) Virugambakkam secretary, said, “The authorities concerned must check the pipelines and also build smaller sewage pumping stations to avoid sewer line bursts,” he said.