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The Election Commission machinery has directed the Chennai Corporation to suspend work on re-laying roads in Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency, where by-election are scheduled to take place on June 27.
The direction came from the District Election Office, on Sunday, in response to complaints made by candidates of the Opposition parties, sources said. The Opposition had alleged that road re-laying works were in violation of the model code of conduct and carried out by the State government with an eye on votes. However, Corporation officials rejected the allegation, but added that since they were directed by the EC, they had stopped the work.
“Work on a few portions of the roads were completed. We have stopped the work midway,” a Chennai Corporation official told in his statement to the media.
The Opposition has been claiming that a number of civic and other projects in the constituency, including water supply improvement works, were taken up only after the by-election had been notified. But, the State government maintained that no new projects were announced after the code of conduct came into force and only works that began prior to by-election schedule were being carried out. The suspension of the work midway and frequent movement of heavy vehicles on incomplete stretches will affect the road pavement quality, officials stated.
The road re-laying works, the officials stated, are part of a much larger project ahead that includes giving a makeover to 194 bus routes ahead of the Global Investors’ Meet scheduled for September.
Tags: Chennai Corporation
