Metro Rail and bridges in place, but R.K Nagar residents still wait for safe drinking water

At 6 a.m. each day, Revathy (name changed) and her neighbours at Butchammal Street in New Washermenpet gather at the hand pumps. The first water that flows is murky and has a foul smell. For at least the next 90 minutes, they need to pump and discard buckets of water before clear and odourless water flows.

Such scenes are almost common in many parts of Tondiarpet, a prominent zone in Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar (R.K.Nagar) constituency in north Chennai. For residents like Revathy, this is a routine they have been following for several years as households struggle to access clean and safe drinking water. The reason : old sewer lines and water pipelines.

Over the past few years, the densely populated constituency has taken a few steps forward for change. The narrow arterial roads, congested bylanes, closely built row houses and busy market areas – all hallmarks of a north Chennai locality – still define the area, even as the introduction of metro rail connectivity has noticeably changed the area’s landscape.

“The issue of contaminated water persists across at least seven surrounding streets in New Washermenpet, including Butchammal Street, Vasar Varadappan Street and Avoor Muthaiah Street,” Revathy said. Her neighbour adds: “The water turns clear after 7.30 a.m., but by then, the flow reduces. Most of us rely on packaged drinking water.” Residents said that sewer lines and water pipelines were at least 40 years old and needed to be replaced.

In the past few years, parts of the constituency have witnessed a number of infrastructural upgrades. The construction of a rail overbridge near Ezhil Nagar was one of them. This, according to a section of residents, has eased traffic congestion for those residing in areas including Korukkupet, Kodungaiyur, Tondiarpet and Ezhil Nagar.

R. Loganathan, CPI (M) district secretariat member, North Chennai, pointed out that the overbridge was constructed in a short span of two years. “Focussing on the youth in the constituency, the sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) has constructed separate gyms for men and women in the seven wards, and two sports complexes including one at Sunnambu Kalvai,” he said. The Tondiarpet Bus Depot has also been revamped and over 100 buses operational, and two markets modernised, he added.

With many parts of the constituency prone to flooding, a section of residents said that new stormwater drains were constructed in some places, while existing ones were rectified in some areas and pumps arranged for lowlying areas.

R. Boopalan, vice president, Senniamman Koil Slum Clearance Board Tenants Welfare Association, said east of R. K. Nagar constituency includes Tiruvottiyur High Road, New Washermenpet, Tondiarpet and Tollgate, while the west comprises Korukkupet, Meenambal Nagar, IOC, Kalaignar Nagar, Nehru Nagar, MGR Nagar, Bharathi Nagar and Ezhil Nagar. “While the areas in the east have seen some development work, the west has had no infrastructural upgrades except the Ezhil Nagar overbridge. The Kodungaiyur dumping yard has caused plenty of damage to areas in the west. Groundwater has been polluted, and people are facing plenty of health hazards,” he said.

Sewage overflow still persists in a number of areas including Bharathi Nagar, Kalaignar Nagar and MGR Nagar, he added. “”Tiruvottiyur High Road has both metro rail connectivity and bus services. But areas such as Ezhil Nagar have very few bus services. Transport connectivity determines the livelihood of people but there are no buses to places such as Ambattur, Guindy and Tambaram. Many youngsters now do gig work, driving vehicles for ride-hailing apps or share autorickshaws,” he said.

Incumbent MLA J. John Ebenezer of the DMK, who is seeking a second term, said the sewer lines were at least 40 years old, and work to lay new sewer lines for 48 km and 18 km of water pipelines are being taken up under the “Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam”. In addition, a water plant is under construction at Bharathi Nagar in Korukkupet to ensure that there is no water shortage.

“This is a constituency that faces heavy traffic congestion, and has high population density relative to its area. Three level crossings at Korukkupet, Ezhil Nagar and Nehru Nagar are frequently closed, disrupting traffic flow, and affecting school students, office-goers, and those travelling to hospitals. This issue remained unaddressed for 40 years. We promised to construct bridges. The bridge at Ezhil Nagar was completed at a cost of Rs. 106 crore and opened for use. While Rs. 75 crore was allotted for the Nehru Nagar bridge, and the foundation stone laid, another Rs. 70 crore was sanctioned for the Korukkupet bridge, and preliminary work has commenced in coordination with the Railways, he added.

Another 40-year-long demand of the residents is a bus terminus at IOC for which work is in progress at ₹2.5 crore from the MLA Constituency Development Scheme, he added.

Published – April 04, 2026 12:59 am IST