Chennai: Plagued by repeated fires, voltage fluctuations, and sudden blackouts, residents of Kasturba Nagar in Adyar are demanding the immediate replacement of a hazardous transformer on 8th Main Road. Repeated petitions to the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) for the past four years have yielded no results.According to residents, the transformer was installed near door no. 14 on 8th Main Road twenty years ago and is shared with the adjacent 7th Main Road. D Balaji, vice president of Adyar Kasturba Nagar South Residents Welfare Association, said that around 300 families are affected by the poor condition of the equipment. “Due to power fluctuations, I have had to change my television two times in five years. This is the third television that I am using,” he said. He added that the transformer catches fire every month, creating panic among the residents.The power distruptions also affect operations of lifts in several apartments on the street. “Often the elevators get stuck between the floors, and we have to run around to rescue those stuck inside,” he said.Ram Kumar, a resident of 7th Main Road, said that many have had to replace multiple electronic items. “For me, the tube lights are never bright. They are always dull and flickering,” he said.Despite several petitions to the department since November 2022, there has been no solution. Residents continue to spend out of pocket to replace bulbs, fans, and televisions. “We have met several officials, the local MLA and IT minister R Kumar, but our efforts have gone in vain. We need this transformer to be replaced,” Balaji said. The association also sent a letter to the chief minister’s office last month.A Ramu, Adyar executive engineer, TNPDCL, said frequent disruptions should not occur. “We have been carrying out maintenance work regularly. I will inspect the structure with my team and take necessary steps,” he said.
