Many rain-ravaged roads in localities around the city are waiting to be re-laid as the local bodies have completed only some of the works under the special roads programme.
Nearly Rs.30.21 crore has been sanctioned under the programme to some of the municipalities in Kancheepuram district, including Tambaram, Pallavaram, Chengalpattu, Maraimalai Nagar and Kancheepuram. However, the project was delayed in the local bodies as contractors cited scarcity of materials as one of the reasons for not starting the work.
Officials of the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply said some of the municipalities such as Tiruvottiyur, Ambattur, Avadi and Alandur were not considered for the funding as work was under way on underground sewerage and drinking water supply networks. A senior official of the department said a total of 171 roads were selected for provision of both cement concrete and bitumen topped roads in the southern suburbs such as Tambaram and Pallavaram.
In northern and western suburbs, only a few roads in Madhavaram, Manali, Poonamallee, Kathivakkam and Maduravoyal municipalities are covered under the programme. M.K.Ilamvazhuthi of Manali said the municipality has not taken up works to relay the damaged roads so far. “I have a tough time riding from Manali to work place in Anna Nagar as the roads have not been repaired since the heavy rains in November,” he said.
Officials in Madhavaram Municipality said there has been a delay in starting the work as they had to repeatedly dig up roads to rectify faults in house service connections for water supply. “We have to co-ordinate with Chennai Metrowater personnel engaged in laying drinking water pipeline. We will try to complete the work by March,” said an official. The municipality would lay 28 roads in areas such as Vajravel Nagar and Thanickalam Nagar with the funding of Rs.2.5 crore.
In Maduravoyal, four roads running up to a distance of two km are being laid at a cost of Rs.60 lakh. Other damaged roads would have to wait till the projects are completed, said the officials.
