More than two months after it was built, the new building for local ward councillor, engineers and other technical staff from Zone 6 of the Chennai Corporation in Ambattur Old Town (OT) is still locked due to some procedural delays at the civic body’s headquarters in Ripon Buildings.
Sources in the Corporation said that the new facility was built at a cost of Rs. 42 lakh. The amount was sanctioned along with other developmental works including renovation of parks, overhead tanks, and footpaths for all 15 zones of the Corporation by the Mayor.
When opened, the new building, which is located on K.K. Road adjacent to the Thangal Eri park, will cater to the needs of the residents in Corporation Ward 80. The two-storey building has separate rooms for assistant engineers of various sections including electrical and public works, assistant executive engineer, ward councillor, sanitary inspectors, tax collectors and consultancy inspectors. Further, the new facility also has a visitors’ hall for the residents to register their complaints and to meet civic officials.
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“The building was completed within a year. We have sent the report of the completion of the building to our higher officials, but we are not sure when the facility will be opened,” said a Corporation official.
At present, Corporation officials including engineers and the councillor do not have a separate building to prepare project reports, interact with residents and conduct meetings among themselves and with the residents.
Residents said that the existing practice of meeting officials at the zonal office at Ambattur was tiresome and many visitors, especially senior citizens, found it difficult to travel all the way there.
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“The new ward office is to be boon for the residents as it is located in our neighbourhood and will make meeting officials easier,” said K. Narasimhan, a resident of Ambattur OT.