Ministers, Mayor visit rain-affected areas

CHENNAI: Acting on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s direction, the Municipal Administration Minister K P Munusamy along with the Highways and Minor Ports Minister Edapadi K Palanisamy, Handlooms and Textiles Minister B V Ramanaa, Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy and Deputy Mayor Benjamin conducted an extensive tour of rain-affected areas in the city corporation limits on Friday.The ministers started their tour from Porur, which was recently added to the Chennai Corporation. During the visit, the ministers inspected the possibilities of constructing a new flyover at Porur to ease traffic congestion. Besides touring some rain-affected areas in the locality, they headed towards another recently added area - Thiruvotriyur in North Chennai.At Thiruvotriyur, the ministers visited areas such as Rajaji Nagar, Charles Nagar, Annamalai Nagar, North Mada Street, Udayar Maaligai Street, Vinayagapuram and Surapettai and ordered the officials to speed up draining works.During the tour, local residents appealed to Minister K P Munusamy to take immediate steps to construct a subway near Thiruvotriyur Railway Gate, as it was one of the long pending demands of the people in Thiruvotriyur. While ordering officials to explore the possibilities of constructing a subway as per the demands of  locals, the Minister also asked the local Corporation officials to send a detailed proposal to construct a storm water drain network there.After the field trip, the ministers held a discussion with top Corporation officials about the projects that have to be taken up immediately in Thiruvotriyur region to improve basic amenities there.Continuing their whirlwind tour of rain-affected areas, the ministers then inspected parts of Mogappair and met a group of residents in Mogappair East locality where the locals complained about overflowing sewages after  showers.Besides other officials, Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan accompanied the ministers and the Mayor during the six-hour marathon tour.