After months of protests from residents, the Tambaram Corporation in Chennai has finally allocated 75 lakhs for repairing damaged roads in Pammal and Anakaputhur. These roads were severely affected during the construction of sewage drains, making daily commutes a hassle for residents.
The corporation has announced plans to repair specific stretches in Pammal, including Pasumpon Nagar and Nallathambi main road, and roads in Anakaputhur such as JN Road, along with the service road. Corporation Commissioner S Balachander has assured residents that these repairs will be completed within a few weeks.
Residents have been voicing their concerns about the damaged roads for a long time, highlighting the inconveniences they face due to frequent traffic disruptions, vehicle damage, and safety hazards. Surya Dev Karan, a resident of Anakaputhur, shared his experience of being stuck in traffic for 45 minutes while trying to drop his daughter off at school. He emphasized the chaotic situation during peak hours due to the damaged road right in front of the school.
While residents have accepted the long wait for repairs, they are urging the corporation to ensure that the roads are re-laid properly. A senior engineer from the corporation acknowledged the complaints about poor quality work during previous repairs. He assured that the corporation will inspect and re-pave these roads in phases, and will also request the highways department to re-lay roads once construction work is completed.
The repair work on the roads, along with the installation of machines to clean manholes, is expected to significantly improve daily commutes for residents and enhance the overall infrastructure of the area.
The corporation commenced the laying of pipelines in 2021, covering a 50-km stretch across 389 streets in Anakaputhur and a 100-km stretch across 877 streets in Pammal. They have also installed machines to clean manholes at 2,212 places in Pammal and 768 places in Anakaputhur.
The construction of underground drainage systems, which has been delayed for over a year, is nearing completion. This project is expected to provide a long-term solution to the area’s drainage issues.
