The Hindu : Sewerage project deprives residents of MTC services

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Sewerage project deprives residents of MTC services

By R.Sujatha

CHENNAI APRIL 26. The Nanganallur residents do not have access to the cheapest mode of surface transport--the Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses--thanks to the on-going sewerage project. The suburb with over two lakhs population has been suffering in silence because the sewerage project would bring them much needed relief. Little did they realise that the project would drag on over three years and that it would also mean erratic bus services for the entire period.

The situation has worsened with the MTC declaring that no buses would ply to interior Nanganallur from April 18 and that services would remain suspended until July because "the roads are not motorable".

Three years ago, 23 buses--route numbers 52 K (12 services), 52 L (5), 52 P, 18 C, and 52 M (2 each), were being operated through this suburb to Broadway and T.Nagar. The services were gradually reduced. All services on route number 52 K were terminated when works began. Route number 52 P was terminated a month ago near Kendriya Vidyalaya (behind Trident hotel). Two buses each on route numbers 52 M and 52 L, were run until some time ago, though the services were erratic. Route number 52 M is being terminated at Vanuvampet, nearly two and half km from the terminus.

Initially, when the work had begun, all buses terminated at Independence Day Park, half a km from the terminus. Services were operated to the interior of Nanganallur, with a population of about 50,000 persons, by diverting buses from Madipakkam Coot Road, to Moovarasanpet tank, MMDC colony and Ezhvoor Amman Koil to reach the Nanganallur terminus. Even this has now stopped because the roads were dug up.

People of about 15 colonies here, like the State Bank of India, the Hindu Colony and the Pillayar Colony suffer the most. Residents are forced to walk more than two kilometres to reach the nearest bus stop or depend on the suburban train services, for which, reaching the nearest station means a three kilometre walk. A resident said, "We share autos but the drivers charge Rs. 25-30 per person per trip".

The residents plead that the MTC buses to and from Keezhkattalai, Tambaram, and West Tambaram, be diverted to the area. "Buses of private companies like Ashok Leyland and Huyndai are running on these roads. It is difficult to walk because of the heat and the bad roads. It is a 40- minute walk to any place from the terminus", according to a resident.

A social worker living in the area said: "people living in the fringes can access the highway or the Meenambakkam or Pazhavanthangal railway stations. Let the MTC re-inspect the roads and then run buses through the diverted route as they did earlier, on a trial basis for at least a week".

Meanwhile, MTC officials said they had inspected the roads and found them impossible to navigate as they were not properly planned.

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