For the past two-and-a-half months, an old, abandoned power transformer has posed a problem for residents of an apartment complex on Paper Mills Road in Perambur.
The over 100 residents of Subashini Gardens have been struggling to take their vehicles out of the apartment complex after the transformer was left on the road connecting the apartment complex with Paper Mills Road by officials of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco).
“Two months back, Tangedco officials replaced the old transformer with another. This was part of their plan to upgrade the old one,” said G. Kumar, treasurer of the apartment complex’s resident welfare association.
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There are over 34 families living in the apartment complex.
“When one of our representatives contacted the Tangedco officials, they said they were replacing a transformer in Villivakkam. They said they were planning to take both old transformers together,” said Patrick, secretary of the association.
Residents can now access Paper Mills Road through Foxen Street, but it is too narrow. “It is difficult to drive a car through it. Even if we manage to, the route beyond that is crammed,” said Mr. Kumar.
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The situation is worsened by the presence of the electricity board office on Paper Mills Road, outside the apartment complex. “It is difficult to even walk through the road as consumers who come to pay their electricity bills park their bikes haphazardly. Last week, the problem was compounded as there was a drainage leak. There are many senior citizens living in the apartment complex and they find it really hard,” said Mr. Kumar.
The residents fear that in case of a medical emergency, it will be difficult for an ambulance to get inside.