While the Greater Chennai Corporation has dug up roads for constructing a stormwater drain network in several parts of Velachery, the Chennai Metrowater (CMWSSB) has been digging up newly laid roads in the interiors with impunity, residents charge.
The Corporation had relaid several roads in Division 179 after Metrowater completed water and sewage pipe work in Balamurugan Nagar, V.G.P. Selva Nagar, Annai Indira Nagar and Sarathy Nagar.
Recently, Metrowater workers started digging the newly laid roads. Roads in Sarathy Nagar 5th Street, Balamurugan Nagar 3rd Street, Pillayar Koil Street and Shastri Street in Annai Indira Nagar were dug up.
S. Ananthan, a resident of Annai Indira Nagar, said, “The civic body takes so many years to repave damaged roads. Even before the residents can enjoy the comfort of paved roads, utilities like Metrowater and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) damage the roads, inconveniencing residents.” Residents of several streets in Velachery are also concerned by the continually increasing road height.
Heightening of road
Adding to their woes, Metrowater has started digging several roads for increasing the manhole height, leaving them in a shamble. According to officials of Metrowater, roads in Velachery were dug to raise the level of sewage manholes. When the roads are relaid, manholes often get buried, making maintenance difficult, they clarified.
Metrowater recently took up a ₹25 crore project to raise the level and to repair damaged manholes.
Of the 7,500 manholes to be improved across the city, work is in progress to raise the level of 1,500 in Velachery. “We are digging 2-2.5 feet diameter pits to raise the level of manholes to match the road level,” an official said.
These manholes would be raised by half a feet. There is no need of relaying the entire road as the work sites will be localised.
The project, which was taken up under the maintenance fund, will be completed by mid-January, the officials added.
