Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation dug up walkable pavements along Anna Nagar 2nd Avenue in Jan, promising to make the 3km stretch flood-free. Eight months on, the stormwater drain work remains incomplete, poorly executed or abandoned by the contractor. This has triggered fears that the very project meant to prevent flooding could leave parts of the neighbourhood inundated during the monsoon.The ₹17crore project to build a 4.2km drain network has remained in limbo despite work orders being issued in Sept last year. A key stretch near Anna Nagar Tower Metro remains dug up and abandoned. Just 20m away, at the metro entrance, an older drain with inlet points already exists. Yet, GCC began constructing another drain parallel to it on the road.At several other locations, including Thirumangalam, 12th Avenue and 13th Main Road junctions, the new drains remain disconnected. GCC has also not built silt catch pits and inlets to allow water from the road to reach the drains. Puddles left behind by recent showers have instead stagnated on the carriageway.Across the stretch, the contractor pulled out Tangedco cables and left them running along the roadside, even at locations where the drain work has been marked “completed”. Near the popular Food Street on 2nd Avenue, which draws thousands of visitors, some of the exposed cables have been damaged, with sharp metal projections sticking out, posing electrical hazard threats.K Shanthi, a senior citizen from Anna Nagar Old Z Block on 13th Main Road, said, “There used to be little flooding outside Thirumangalam Metro. Now, they have constructed twin drains in most parts. Was any project report prepared for this? Who approved such designs? The road is entirely straight, but the GCC has built the drain in all shapes and sizes without removing obstructions. This third-rate work has affected the neighbourhood.”The contractor, who damaged the tiled pavements while executing the work, has now constructed concrete drain-top slabs without railings. “Now people cannot use it for walking either. A serious investigation is needed into the scope of work,” the resident said.GCC commissioner G S Sameeran, however, said only 50m of work on the south side, including a road crossing, was pending. “In the Thirumangalam-Roundtana stretch, there are three EB gaps and one road crossing gap. We held a meeting with Tangedco, and they will coordinate in shifting the pillar boxes,” he said.The commissioner said the workers had damaged an underground EB line while executing the work. “Temporary rectification was done by the contractor. But Tangedco has asked for permanent rectification by the contractor. We have instructed the contractor to keep barricades and remove all debris and excess earth from the worksite. We will complete the work by Sept 15,” he said.
