WhatsApp group to keep track of road cuts

Explaining the difficulty in keeping a count of the dug up roads in the city, an official said that the permissions for these are given by the respective zones. The trouble is because of the delay in this information reaching Ripon Building, the head office.

“To fill the lacunae and to ensure coordination with other service departments, a WhatsApp group was started recently. Details of the permission granted and their status will be shared in the group,” said an official.

Sources said that the phone number of Deputy Commissioner (Works) has been added to the group to apprise him of road cuts in the city. During a review meeting, the senior official directed zone level officials to report on the dug up roads immediately to the Deputy Commissioner. Following this, his number was added to the group, according to the official.

“Once the permission is given in any part of the city, the details will be sent immediately,” the official added. It may be noted that the Chennai Corporation stopped issuing road cut permission due to the onset of monsoon. “The WhatsApp group will also help in monitoring illegal road cuts,” the official said.

This has long been a headache for the city Corporation, as it comes in the line of fire from the public despite not being directly responsible in many of the cases. According to it, the main problem is caused by frequent rad cuts made by government departments itself, including power, water and telecommunication, besides private service providers and firms. As per its rule, these departments and firms will have to obtain permission by applying in advance and paying the necessary charges.