Citizen Connect: 3 years on, Thirumagal Nagar residents’ demand to relay 2nd St remains unattended

The residents of Thirumagal Nagar in Chitlapakkam are irked with the Kancheepuram district administration after several of their petitions to relay the road in Second Street went unaddressed.

In September 2016, following several petitions, a signature campaign and numerous protests, the roads at Thirumagal Nagar at Chitlapakkam were finally re-laid after two decades at the cost of 32 lakh. But, due to the cut-and-cover drain project which was undertaken and later abandoned by local authorities in October 2018, the road has become unusable again. With accidents occurring on a regular basis, residents in the area and its vicinities complained to the Chief Minister’s Cell, after which the mud canal was closed. But the road still continues to remain in dilapidated condition.

After the storm water drains were constructed, the road that was 24 metres wide originally has shrunk to 18 metres. Then it further shrunk to 10 metres after the cut-cover-drain project in 2018. With hundreds of children from the school situated just 50 metres away from Thirumagal Nagar Second Street using the path every day, it has become a matter of serious concern. “Many accidents have occurred in the past due to the cut-cover-drain. As the schools have reopened, these open trenches can prove fatal if not attended to soon,” said a worried Dayanand Krishnan, a long-time resident of Thirumagal Nagar Second Street.

He said that after the issue of recurring accidents was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister’s cell through complaints, the open drain was closed recently. “We wanted the road to be re-laid at the earliest,” he demanded.

Another resident said that with the road remaining completely damaged, the entire locality is covered with mud from the road, polluting the surroundings. “With so much of dust around, many people complain of respiratory problems and skin ailments. How long will it take of the Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat officials to relay the road which was damaged by them,” the resident questioned.

Dayanand said that they have written to the CM cell once again seeking to direct the local body officials to relay the Thirumagal Nagar second street immediately.

A town panchayat officialsaid that the Second Streetrelaying work was under their consideration and it would be done at the earliest.