The Sunday Service at CSI Tamil Wesley church may have progressed without any hassle after the stagnated rain water was cleaned by church staff. But the officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) have not ruled out further water seepage from the cracks in the building in case of rains, said church authorities
Late in July, underground Metro Rail work caused cracks in the 152-year-old CSI Tamil Wesley church located in Prakasam Salai in Broadway. The church has been classified as ‘Grade 2A’ heritage structure by Justice E. Padmanabhan Committee report that lists the heritage buildings in the city.
This church suffered water seepage from the cracks due to the rains that lashed the city few days ago. But the CMRL officials told The Hindu that the seepage occurred owing to lack of proper drains. “Some officials told us that this water seepage will definitely recur in case of further rains till the cracks are repaired,” said a member of the church.
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The CMRL officials began to repair the cracks in the church only in the last week of August more than a month after the church developed cracks. At present, the officials have completed 40 percent of repair which comprises the work on strengthening the foundation of the building and the compound wall. “Now, we are having discussions with Metro officials on the rest of the work. We have some disagreement on the nature of the work that they plan to do on the basis of the recommendations given by experts from IIT Madras who inspected the building. But some of the engineers from Anna University whom we consulted have some other suggestions as well. So, we will hold discussions with experts from both these colleges and then decide on further repair work,” said another member of the church.
These church developed cracks when the tunnel boring machine (TBM) drilled under the building as part of the tunnelling work between Mannady to Madras High Court.