Chennai: Free freezer boxes for the dead, a facility offered by the Chennai corporation three yea­rs ago, have not worked out as desired as in mo­st instances, they are already bo­oked.

Online req­uests offer an acknowledgement and a reference number, but there is no freezer box at the end of the transaction as the­re is a shortage of boxes.

The free van, freezer box and free burial scheme can save a family of expenses to the tu­ne of Rs 6000 to Rs 10,000.

“The corporation’s intention was good but execution has been poor,” said Go­vardhana Giri, a resident of Chintadripet who tried to avail of the free service last week.

Corporation sources at the zonal office said that almost half the freezer boxes and mortuary vans had reached their expiry date, but continued to be in use when available. 

Two years ago, there were 24 freezer boxes and 12 mortuary vans, but half are damaged or under repair now, they said.

Efforts to contact senior corporation officials for their response proved futile.