For the past few years, Greater Chennai Corporation ward 61 has been witnessing rapid development of multi-storied luxury apartments covering neighbourhoods of Egmore. The ward already has one of the largest number of affluent residents in the city. But civic facilities, including roads and stormwater drains, are inadequate. During the December floods, most of the homes were flooded.
“More than 1000 families with high-net-worth are residents of the area. The demand for innovative civic development projects is high. There are also five huge slums. So, the ward has its own set of challenges,” said Councillor M. Mohammed Imtiaz. Chennai Corporation has commissioned four Amma Canteens to cater to the poor in the ward.
Many of the roads in the ward, including Pantheon Road, received a makeover with wide footpaths. But the encroachments on the footpaths prevent access for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.
Connemara Library, Government Museum, Egmore Railway Station, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Ophthalmic Hospital and Institute of Child Health attract a large number of visitors from all over Chennai.
But the project by Chennai Corporation to offer footpath connectivity to the buildings is yet to be completed. Most of the footpaths were damaged before completion of the work.
“Residents have requested authorities to remove encroachments on footpaths. We want a proper stormwater drain network. New apartment complexes have started polluting the drains,” said a resident.
“Foreigners visit streets such as Kenneth Lane. So, we are trying to improve civic facilities,” said Mr. Imtiaz.
Slum residents report civic problems such as power supply disruption, sewage overflow, insufficient drinking water and garbage. But wealthy neighbourhoods report incomplete stormwater drains, severe flooding during the rains, parking of vehicles on wide footpaths, sewage overflow and encroachments on footpaths. For example, Montieth Road does not have a proper stormwater drain network. More than 25 spots report inundation during the rains.
