Residents seek measures to expedite road cuts for resolving civic problems

The Hindu

04-06-2025

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Owing to frequent disruption of power supply in zones such as Sholinganallur, where roads are being dug up for laying underground drainage network, residents have demanded faster processing of requests for road cuts to prevent a delay in restoration of services.
V. Parthiban, general secretary of the Confederation of Residents' Welfare Associations, Sholinganallur, demands that civic agencies find a solution to prevent such delay in road cuts.
Around 50% of the civic issues that require road cuts in various zones of the Chennai Corporation are related to electricity, water, and sewage, according to data complied by the GCC.
Though a large number of service departments, more than 20 in number, carry out road cuts for resolving civic issues and implementing infrastructure projects, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board alone accounts for around 25% of them, and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), more than 25%.
Residents have urged the civic agencies to develop a system to expedite road cuts. 'When there is disruption of power or water supply, we request officials to give permission for road cuts instantly, without any delay,' they say.
A. Francis, president of the Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents' Welfare Associations, said work on digging a cement concrete road, which was laid only a few months ago, is under way. 'The residents want the dug-up roads to be restored immediately. But this has not always been the case. There has been a delay in the restoration of the new road after the sewer network was built. We request that a new system be formed for improved coordination between all the line agencies,' he said.
AIADMK councillor J. John said, in the past, the AIADMK government had initiated work to build sewer network in close proximity to all houses so that sewer connection could be established without digging up roads. 'The scheme to provide connection to all houses should be strengthened, similar to that of the previous regime,' he said.
DMK councillor T.V. Shemmozhi said residents had demanded permission for road cut along Anna Nagar Second Avenue to resolve a sewage-related civic issue in the area.
Following an overwhelming demand from residents in various parts of the city, the Chennai Corporation has proposed to expedite the work, and introduce a seamless system for granting permission for road cuts.
An official said the new system would be implemented in one or two days, and the guidelines issued shortly.
'We have decided to expedite approvals for pending road cuts across the city. The online system will be altered. Under the new system, the residents will be able to raise claim charges after applying for Metrowater connection. Additionally, the No Objection Certificate from the traffic police can be obtained online,' another official said.
At a meeting attended by more than 20 service departments on Tuesday, GCC officials decided to take measures to resolve issues with the departments.
On the CMWSSB work under way in zones such as Manali, Madhavaram, Sholinganallur, and Perungudi, an official said they would expedite the road cut and restoration work.