Water-logging is proving to be a stubborn problem at Nagathamman Koil Street Extension in LIC Colony, West Mambalam. Even the gentle showers from last week would not drain quickly off this 130-ft-long street. Residents attribute this problem to poorly-relaid roads in the surrounding areas.“It is more than four years since the road in Nagathamman Koil Street Extension was last relaid, which contrasts sharply with the situation in nearby roads that have been relaid in recent times. However, all these roads have been relaid without milling. So, these roads are elevated, and the agathamman Koil Street Extension lies really low. Therefore, water flows from other streets into Nagathamman Koil Street Extension,” says T. R .Vasudeva Rao, a resident of the street. Nagathamman Koil Street Extension, which is a cul-de-sac, has no stormwater drains. “We have to wade through the stagnant water. Most of the residents of the street are senior citizens. We have to be very cautious while we walk,” says Muthu Kumar, another resident.
Though the street does not have any residents welfare association, residents have made many complaints to the Greater Chennai Corporation in the past. Four residents of the street - T. R .Vasudeva Rao, K. Subramaniyan, Muthu Kumar and Ramamoorthy have made a fresh complaint with the Corporation seeking relaying of the road in Nagathamman Koil Street Extension. “Our street was last relaid in 2014. Over the last three years, we have been meting Corporation officials of Division 140. They have been promising us that our street will be relaid at the earliest. They have even said that funds have been sanctioned for the work. But nothing has showed up till now. We request the Corporation to relay the road at the earliest as the north-east monsoon is round the corner,” says Muthu Kumar.