SBI Colony in Chromepet, under Ward 36 of Tambaram Corporation, is facing persistent garbage dumping, sewage flowing through an open canal, dangerous potholes and damaged overhead electrical cables, residents and motorists have said.
The residential neighbourhood near Purushothaman Nagar is home to retired professionals and bank employees. Its First Main Road, which runs past SBI Park, is used by school students and office-goers, while the SBI Colony–Radha Nagar Link Road connects commuters to the Radha Nagar subway, GST Road and Tirusulam Metro. The area also houses the Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s Depot II.
Residents said garbage is routinely dumped at two junctions on the stretch, allegedly by people arriving from outside the locality in cars and other vehicles. R. Vijay Pandian, a retired Additional Public Prosecutor who lives on SBI Colony Main Road, said people arrive, leave waste within seconds and drive away. A garbage-recycling unit placed in front of his apartment was removed after it failed to solve the problem, but reptiles and insects continued to be seen in the area, he said.
An open canal intended to carry rainwater has also become mixed with sewage, posing a health risk to residents, particularly those living in nearby apartment complexes. K.S. Sowmiyanarayanan, secretary of the SBI Staff Cooperative Housing Colony Welfare Association, said residents had raised the issue with elected representatives for nearly a decade without a lasting solution.
Residents have planted rare-species saplings and installed protective fencing at their own cost to discourage dumping. Sowmiyanarayanan said the fencing was damaged during canal-cleaning work, after which dumping continued. The waste has also attracted dogs and cattle, which occupy much of the road and reduce the space available to motorists.
Sukanya, a homemaker, said her daughter fell from her bicycle while returning from school after a cow suddenly turned towards her. Sowmiyanarayanan also raised concerns about overhead electric cables near SBI Park, saying they frequently fell and were simply rejoined. Residents want the cables replaced before they cause an accident.
The SBI Colony–Radha Nagar Link Road is used by commuters heading towards GST Road to avoid congestion near the MIT Bridge during peak hours. Its southern stretch has large potholes, while two speed breakers at a bend are followed by damaged sections of road. Prince Rajkumar, an IT professional, said the potholes made the route difficult for two-wheeler users at night.
Residents said they recently submitted a representation to Pallavaram MLA J. Kamatchi. They have sought temporary deployment of volunteers to monitor the stretch and prevent dumping, along with action on the Corporation’s reported commitment to cover the canal and construct concrete walking paths between the Mahadevan Street junction and SBI Park.
They have also urged Tambaram Corporation to fill the potholes or relay the link road, while ensuring transparency in the tendering process for the road work. Ward 36 councillor Saraswathi Chandrasekhar attributed indiscriminate dumping to members of the public and shifted responsibility for civic management to officials when contacted by The Hindu.
