Residents have finally started raising their voice against negligence on the part of the Chennai Corporation.
A group of Mylapore residents, on Wednesday, attempted to stage a road roko on Royapettah High Road condemning the civic body for leaving Balakrishna Street unattended for nearly three years.
The residents, along with some members of Communist Party of India (Marxist), shouted slogans against the civic body. But the police placed barricades and pacified them. Corporation officials came to the spot and assured the residents that the road would be laid in 25 days.
Balakrishnan Street, located in ward 12, connects Mundakakanni Amman railway station with Royapettah High Road. “The civic body did not lay the road claiming that some stormwater drain work had to be completed,” said B.R. Murali, of CPI (M) and a resident of Mylapore.
Nearly six months ago, the drain work was completed, but only a portion of the road was laid. Three months ago, the Corporation brought machines for road laying. “They also dumped gravel outside our houses, but there has been no progress,” said Neelakandan, another CPI (M) member.
The present condition of the road has hindered residents like 56-year old K. Vasudevan, who said he had fallen from his motorcycle more than once trying to navigate the stretch. “Despite repeated complaints to the Corporation, there has been no action. Every time we complain, they say the road will be laid in a few weeks,” Mr. Vasudevan said.
Councillor A. Noorjahan said the contractor who was awarded the contract for the work left without completing the job, and added that the work would be completed in a month.
