Metro rail digs up a controversy

Chennai:

A pit dug up by Chennai Metro Rail as part of their ongoing construction work snapped the water connection of a housing complex sparking anger among the residents in Little Mount near the Saidapet-Guindy stretch.

Residents of the Baid Mehta Complex, which houses about 100 families,  came out on road for few minutes allegedly disrupting the traffic in busy mount Road stretch which was restored immediately after police gave assurances that their grievances will be heard.

The residents complained that their water connection snapped and the access road to the complex shrunk after the pit was dug last night by metro rail contractors. Assistant secretary of the housing complex Uday kumar said that barricades were also not erected after the pit was dug putting the safety of residents at risk. “It was only after we protested they installed make-shift barricade which is still not safe,” said T K Arun Kumar, a resident of the complex.

“Live electric power cables lie exposed both at the ground and in these pits posing a risk to residents passing along those passages,” he alleged.

He also alleged that the 33 feet access road has now shrunk to 11.5 feet. This could pose as an obstruction to fire service engines during emergencies, he alleged. “Metro rail should ensure safety of residents are not put to risk as well as basic amenities like water is not disrupted,” Arun Kumar said.

A metro rail spokesman said that water connection to the complex will be restored soon. He said residents were provided with water immediately after the supply was cut. “We provided them with tanker water immediately and the water connection to the complex will be restored soon,” the spokesman said. He also said the safety of the residents will not be compromised