Residents have complained about incomplete civic infrastructure projects in various zones of the city. 

As the next three-month period is crucial for expediting infrastructure projects ahead of the onset of the northeast monsoon in the city, residents have pointed to a delay in resuming work after the Assembly election. Many of the delayed projects have not yet gained momentum even after the Model Code of Conduct was lifted on May 6.  

Madipakkam resident G. Swaminathan said the road relaying work in southern parts of the city has not started after the election. “Important roads such as Madipakkam Kuberan Nagar Extension 12th Street and Govindasamy Nagar Main Road have been in bad shape for many years. Two years ago, they started digging the road to lay sewer pipelines. Then they carried out patch work. Later, they dug up the road for water pipelines. Chennai Corporation officials said they would relay the road after the monsoon in 2025. But the work has been delayed,” said Mr. Swaminathan.

Federation of North Chennai Residents Welfare Associations president K. Shanmugham said the residents complained about polluted drinking water in 33 areas, including Perambur and Vyasarpadi owing to mixing of sewage in the drinking water. “The work was sanctioned in areas such as Gandhi Nagar in Ward 35 and Everready Colony in ward 34. The civic agencies should complete the work and GCC should relay the road before the northeast monsoon,” he said.

Residents complained about the slow pace of work in Ganesapuram Bridge and demanded that the Chennai Corporation complete the work ahead of the onset of the Northeast monsoon this year. The bridge was announced in 2022 to ease traffic congestion and improve transport connectivity in north Chennai.

S. Saravanan, a trader in north Chennai, said: “We sent an email to the Commissioner after the new government was formed. Even though there has been an improvement in the pace of work, the officials have also reportedly indicated that the bridge might be completed only after the northeast monsoon. We want the work to be completed before the northeast monsoon. Even after the Ganesapuram bridge is completed, the GCC has not planned any road widening to ease bottlenecks for traffic.”

Ward 35 Councillor S. Jeevan said civic infrastructure work, including a ration shop with the Councillor fund in Muthamizh Nagar has been delayed because an assistant executive engineer of Chennai Corporation was not allowing the contractor to execute the work. “Before the election, the official asked the contractor to do the work after the election. Even after the election, the official concerned is not allowing the contractor to execute the work,” said Mr. Jeevan.

Chennai Corporation officials said all the civic infrastructure projects will be expedited before the northeast monsoon.