The ongoing road-digging work for laying underground cables, installing new transformers and constructing rain water harvesting systems for linking up with stormwater drains in Nanganallur, is causing hardships for road users.
People complain that the road space has been reduced drastically due to the digging. “Pedestrians and vehicle users are the worst-affected as they are forced to walk/ride in the middle of the road. Free movement of vehicles is hindered and it has become a nightmare for motorists to navigate the stretch,” says Prakash S., a resident.
At present, construction of RWH systems at the junction of Fourth Main Road, and First Main Road, 22 and 23 Street and Second Main Road is in full swing.
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Installation of transformers and junction boxes on Ram Nagar Third Main Road, 23 Street, 44 Street and 46 Street, Nanganallur, is under way.
“The roads were re-laid with tar-topping in 2014. Not a year has passed, and stormwater drain department of the civic body has again digging up the roads for construction of rainwater harvesting systems. The electricity board is digging up the roads to lay underground cables and install new transformers. There is no co-ordination between the government departments and government agencies.
The debris remains un-cleared on the roads causing difficulty to road users. The tar roads would have weakened after digging and will get completely damaged during monsoon,” V. Krishnan, a resident of Nanganallur, said.
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“We are not able to take our two wheelers outside our gates and a few are forced to park their vehicles on the road till the work is over. Construction of facilities providing basic civic amenities should have been carried out before laying of roads. But now, the roads have to be re-laid again once the works are complete,” a resident of 23 Street said on condition of anonymity.
When contacted, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation officials said, “Under the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP), the Ministry of Power, work towards installation of 40 distribution transformers at a cost of Rs.1.20 crore in Nanganallur and Pazhavanthangal is progressing at a fast pace.
Works under the programme include underground cabling, replacement of transformers, computerisation of the distribution system and introduction of IT-enabled services.”