Chennai Metro water work causes hindrance to residents

Chennai: Poor engineering and inefficient planning by Chennai Metro Water officials have been troubling residents of Puzhithivakkam as the prolonged work has been a hindrance for easy commuting since this January.

With the recent downpour increasing the reservoir storage capacity in the city, Tamil Nadu government has ordered the release of additional water to suburbs. “We were happy when Metro Water works at Puzhithivakkam were resumed this January to meet the demand. However, the delayed work causes great inconvenience to us,” said S. Bhaskaran, a resident.

Works undergoing on the bus route road forces small buses to take an alternative route, making public transportation a chaotic process. “The  three small buses (S82, S85, S18) put into service recently do not serve the purpose as they take a different route everyday due to the ongoing work,” added Bhaskaran.  

Metro Water engineers rushed the work by using excavators, damaging telephones lines of over 200 residents. “Commuters are not informed about the change in bus routes. Many of us switched to our own transport,” said Bhavya S, a college student who usually uses the small bus to reach Alandur Metro.

Puzhithivakkam bus terminus, which connects residents to Broadway is dumped with debris, forcing buses to stop a kilometre away. “We are forced to walk for a kilometre to the Puzhithivakkam Metro rail where the buses are now parked,” said Padmini, a senior citizen.  When DC contacted officials of Metro Water, they said work is almost completed. “Trials are on here. Following this, connections will be given soon,” he added.

The official, however, blamed Chennai Corporation for dumping the debris at the bus terminus. Chennai Corporation officials refused to comment on the issue.