Many of the roads that have fallen apart due to the recent rain are a source of embarrassment for the Chennai Corporation. For, these roads were not re-laid long ago. Some of them were specially re-laid for the Global Investors Meet.
According to Corporation sources, the civic body is likely to penalise the contractors for roads that have been damaged within the liability period.
Corporation Commissioner Vikram Kapur said the survey of roads damaged in the rains would be completed shortly.
“Analysis will follow,” he said. The civic body has already started milling — scraping of old layer — of roads such as Kamarajar Salai and R.K. Salai.
Work on stretches such as Valluvar Kottam High Road is also underway. Many other stretches including Montieth Road, Usman Road and Nelson Manickam Road have been damaged.
Motorists said some portions of Sardar Patel Road and R.K. Mutt Road were already showing signs of damage caused by severe inundation. Most of these roads were recently re-laid for the Global Investors Meet. Motorists and residents, who face hardships due to these damaged roads, have started calling helpline 1913 to lodge their grievances relating to road damage and water stagnation on roads.
At least 5,217 complaints have been registered from October 28 by personnel manning the Corporation helpline 1913.
The civic body is also planning to study the complaints made by motorists and residents to assess the extent of damage to roads caused by rains.
Corporation officials said some of the roads covered in the project were dug up recently. The civic body had planned to complete work on 194 roads before the northeast monsoon. Work on 180 roads has been completed so far with facilities for pedestrians, including zebra crossings and pavements.
Contractors are keeping their fingers crossed as the damage to roads during the liability period is likely to lead to penal action by the Chennai Corporation.
