Kathirvedu residents’ agonising wait for buses, garbage disposal

Residents of Kathirvedu enjoy improved infrastructure but face challenges with transport connectivity, garbage disposal, and street lighting.

Residents of Kathirvedu may be the most content locals you ever meet. In the last six years, there has been tremendous improvement in roads, water supply to houses, and underground drainage. Thanks to rapid urbanisation, more people have shifted to the locality. “In the last few years, there has been an uptick in the number of people moving to the area. This trend has been beneficial for us as accessible essential shops have come up. Earlier, we would travel to the nearest town to buy medicines and the essentials,” says Selva Easwari, a resident of Kathirvedu for the past 25 years.

Kathirvedu was part of the Madhavaram taluk before it was brought under the Greater Chennai Corporation recently. With the Puzhal Lake close by, water supply has never been a problem; neither has there been rainwater stagnation. However, residents underscore the need for more infrastructure, transport connectivity, and proper garbage disposal.

Kathrivedu residents point out that there is no transport link to important areas of the city. “There is not even a bus shelter or bus stop to signal that buses ply here,” says Rasi K., another resident.

Ulaganathan, a shop-owner on Surapet Main Road, says that a minimum number of buses pass through Kathirvedu. “It is almost an hour’s wait to board a bus to Tambaram. Even that is unpredictable.”

Venkatesan, a resident for the past 40 years, says that all Tambaram-bound buses from Red Hills take the bypass. “At least, one bus service should be diverted through Kathirvedu or Vinayakapuram.”

Ms. Rasi adds the lack of transport makes it difficult for the residents to plan their day. “Given the unpredictable bus services, it takes great planning to catch the one bus to go to the city.”

Mr. Venkatesan suggests that mini-buses be operated to help the commuters. “Mini-buses are needed from Sirivapuri to Retteri and Vinayakapuram to Ambattur to reduce dependence on share auto-rickshaws.”