Financial hurdle hits UG cable work in city

The Tamil Nadu government had made the request package of Rs 17, 000 crore in the aftermath of cyclone Vardah which wreaked havoc on Chennai in December 2016 to undertake TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) related rectification work. “We will now cut the coat according to the cloth,” a top official said. 

Though officials reiterated that Chennai had suffered two major natural calamities (Floods in December 2015 and cyclone in December 2016) in their various missives to the central government, it obviously cut no ice as PFC was not willing to make the financial release either as a grant or soft loan. Asked about the difference, officials said a financial grant meant money which need not be repaid, while a soft loan has interest rates as low as 5 % with a repayment period being extended for years. However, a normal loan has interest rates between 9% and 11% and a specific repayment period which could be as ‘little’ as 10 to 12 years.” 

Areas identified in north Chennai include 15 locations, including Napalayam, Vadaperumbakkam, Lakshmipuram, Retteri, Gandhi Nagar, Kolathur, Kodungaiyur, Tiruvottiyur, Vyasarpadi, Ennore, Manali, Ernavoor, Madhavaram, Manjampakkam, and Mathur, while Chennai west circle has 18 locations including Maduravoyal, Menambedu, Sothuperumbedu, JJ Nagar, Redhills, TV Nagar, Alapakkam, Vanagaram, Porur Garden, Athipet, Ayanambakkam, Ponnian Nagar, Ayapakkam, IE central, Padi, Nolambur, Korattur, and Puzhal. 

Locations in Chennai south region include parts of Tambaram, Velachery and Madipakkam, parts of Nanganallur and Medavakkam, parts of Pallavaram, portions of OMR, ECR, parts of Guindy and Porur, portions of Valasaravakkam and Virugambakkam and parts of Adyar and KK Nagar. “Newly added areas in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts will now have to wait their turn for this facility,” officials added. 

Officials said the tendering process would be completed in another two months based on preliminary calculations which would reveal whether the work should be undertaken in a piece-meal way or as a bulk measure. If the latter is opted, “we have to identify the contractors who have the requisite experience and qualifications,” officials stated. Once work starts it is expected to be completed in one and a half years, they averred.

Once locations are identified, TANGEDCO has to get clearances from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the police; from the former for making road cuts and from the latter to ensure that road cuts do not create traffic hazards. They also have to pay high road cutting costs to GCC which has remained unmoved to their pleas of reducing rates due to TANGEDCO also being a government body. 

But a major issue for TANGEDCO is indiscriminate cutting of roads which can lead to EB underground cables being punctured resulting in a death as had happened at Triplicane a year ago when a road cut to hoist a party flag punctured the cable resulting in a cow dying when it attempted to drink the water pooled around the pole. 

“Though the underground cable we use is covered by seven layers, it can still be pierced which leads to unnecessary problems,” officials stated. 

TANGEDCO chairman M Saikumar said, “The way out would be to go in for ducting as followed abroad which in addition to making repair work safe and would not necessitate cutting up roads or platforms unnecessarily.” A duct, five feet underground, could carry cables of the EB, sewage, metro-water and Telecom departments. 

Sources said that TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) was presently carrying out a pilot common duct project in Jharkhand which would reduce companies operational costs, do away with traffic issues and ensure that roads were not dug up unnecessarily. 

“Chennai, which is on the smart city map, should have this facility if it is to provide improved services to its citizens,” a top official remarked.