Patched-up roads dug up, dug-up roads remain dangerous

CHENNAI: Don’t be surprised if you see city corporation workers digging up patched-up roads. In areas such as Lakshamasamy Salai in KK Nagar as well as in T Nagar, Kodambakkam and Anna Nagar, where the civic body completed drain work and patched up roads about two months ago, roads are being re-dug to lay cables for shifting street light poles to the road edge.
This is with funds under the Nirbhaya project as Greater Chennai Corporation has been replacing old, rusted poles with new ones. Despite complaints about several roads requiring repairs, the corporation has deemed it fit to dig up newly laid/patched-up roads.
As per data available with TOI, only a few bus route roads have been laid and inspected by top officials including the state chief secretary, secretary of municipal adminsitration department and the mayor. Work orders were issued for laying 34 more bus route roads, and 1,119 interior roads. For about 90 roads, due to documentation issues, tenders have been re-called. Another tender, to be finalised in two weeks for 182 crore, is for 1,989 interior roads and 49 bus route roads. Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (Tufidco) is scrutinising a detailed project report for laying 3,000 more roads at 370 crore.
Deputy mayor M Mahesh Kumar said the process was being speeded up. “Most tenders will be settled by April first week and road laying will begin soon. In the next two months, over 1,500 roads will be re-laid,” he said and promised to look into digging of patched-up roads.
Residents and experts lament the poor planning. Charu Govindan, founder-member and coordinator at Voice of People, said tenders called in December were cancelled and re-tendered several times. “Lack of coordination among the various departments is evident as most interior roads are filled with potholes. Coordinating with Metrowater and Tangedco can help resolve half the problem.”
Abhilasha N, Chennai based Urban planner, said resource mapping and online information is vital. “Residents will know which department is undertaking what work.”