CHENNAI: The residents of Perungalathur and Peerkankaranai, which come under the Fourth Zone of the Tambaram Corporation, have raised serious concerns over non-functional streetlights, saying the issue has been causing prolonged inconvenience and posing safety risks, especially during night and early morning hours.

According to residents, streetlights in many interior roads are either not turned on at all or function intermittently. When complaints are made to the electricity board offices, officials reportedly tell residents that streetlight maintenance falls under the jurisdiction of local bodies and advise them to approach the Tambaram Corporation. However, when residents visit the Corporation office, they are directed to the respective zonal offices or ward councillors.

Raja, a resident of Perungalathur, said that despite approaching multiple offices and submitting repeated complaints, repairs are rarely carried out. In several streets, it takes at least 15 days, and in some cases up to 25 days, before faulty streetlights are repaired. Even after repairs, the lights often stop functioning again within a few days, leaving residents frustrated.

The lack of proper lighting has created multiple hardships for residents. Many people return home late at night after work, and they are forced to walk through dark streets in localities such as Srinivasa Nagar, Thangaraj Nagar, Sakthi Nagar, Arul Nagar, Gundumedu, and RMK Nagar. Residents also point out that incidents of chain snatching and other anti-social activities have been reported in these areas, and poorly lit streets provide an advantage.

Residents urged Tambaram Corporation officials to take immediate action and demanded that non-functional streetlights be repaired without delay and that dim, low-illumination lights be replaced with brighter, high-intensity lamps to ensure adequate visibility.

Official sources from the Tambaram corporation said that faulty lights are being replaced regularly, but they will look into the issue and make sure all the complaints are attended to and that the streets are bright enough.