Routine or Solid Solution?

Chennai Corporation Mayor Mr M.Subramaian has reported that an expenditure of Rs 600 million has been booked and spent on the renovation of about 553 roads in the corporation limits by mobilizing the full strength of engineers, contractors and other construction agencies during the month of January, 2011 alone – the first time in the history of Corporation. One should remember that the incessant and excessive rains since June last have extensively damaged the existing city roads. The corporation has started the renovation of 147 Kms of roads with an estimated sum of Rs 600 million sanctioned from the state budget of 2010-11 which are going on at the moment. Including this programme the corporation has undertaken the task of rebuilding 198 major roads and 1002 internal roads at an expenditure of Rs 1.12 billion within a period of three months.

One is not sure whether such an effort on the part of the Corporation is in the nature of a routine exercise pressed into service soon after the rains every year or an attempt to provide a permanent solution to the existing roads at least for 3-4 years. Throughout India such is the case experienced and executed by the civic authorities unlike in the West where the road repairs and rebuilding are long-lasting for a number of years at a stretch.