The first budget of the Chennai corporation after expansion of the city limits seems to have failed to meet the expectation of residents of the northern part of the city.
Former Tiruvottiyur municipal chairman R. Jayaraman expressed his displeasure over non-announcement of a special package to develop newly annexed areas in North Chennai. “We expected a special package for developing infrastructure in the newly annexed areas of Tiruvottiyur, Kathivakkam, Ennore, Manali and Madhavaram in North Chennai. But there was no such announcement in the budget,” he said.
Mr Jayaraman alleged that the corporation had failed to take up road relaying works that had been sanctioned by the erstwhile municipality. “The funds earmarked for relaying roads were transferred to the city Corporation after the merger. But the work was not taken up,” he said, adding that funds were also not allocated for constructing a bridge across Buckingham Canal to connect Sadaiyankuppam.
North Chennai People Right’s Federation secretary A.V.S. Marimuthu said that funds allocated for the Royapuram (Rs 9 crore), Tondiarpet (Rs 14.30 crore) and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar (Rs 10 crore) zones were much lesser when compared to the zones in the South and Central parts of the city.
“We have been asking the corporation to replace the 105-year-old road over-bridge near the Royapuram Railway Station. The construction of a new bridge would pave the way for development of the station. But no funds were allocated for it,” he said.
Mr Marimuthu complained that most of the parks in North Chennai lacked proper maintenance. He also asked the Corporation to take steps to de-silt canals and storm water drains to address the mosquito menace.
Civic activist K. Ramadoss said that the corporation should have allocated more funds for replacing the existing railway level-crossings in North Chennai including Korattur and Wimco Nagar.
“Expectations were high among the residents of those areas that were merged with the Corporation limits. But the Corporation has failed to live up to it,” he said.