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Road Development

Corpn. to develop D.B. Road, T.V. Samy Road as model roads

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The Hindu        02.09.2016 

Corpn. to develop D.B. Road, T.V. Samy Road as model roads

D.B. Road will be the first model road in the city.— Photo: M. Periasamy
D.B. Road will be the first model road in the city.— Photo: M. Periasamy

The Corporation Council on Wednesday resolved to take up in the first phase D.B. Road and T.V. Samy Road for the model roads project. A resolution passed at the urgent council meeting said that the Corporation would take up the D.B. Road project at Rs. 3.20 crore and T.V. Samy Road at Rs. 2.27 crore.

The Corporation had taken up model roads project as part of the non-motorised transport scheme in association with the non-government organisation Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. It first undertook architectural survey works, prepared model road design and then prepared project report with support from architects.

After that, it roped in five firms to prepare model plans and detailed project reports for the roads it had selected – NSR Road, T.V. Samy Road, Masakalipalayam Road (from Avinashi Road to Masakalipalayam Link Road), Sanganoor Road, Race Course Road, Masakalipalayam Road (from G.V. Residency to Trichy Road) and D.B. Road.


After getting the detailed project report, the Corporation had now decided to go ahead with the model road project on D.B. Road and T.V. Samy Road by dividing those in to five and four stretches respectively. On Wednesday, the council accorded administrative sanction for the projects. The model roads would have ducts for laying cables or pipelines, broad pedestrian-friendly pathways and vendors’ zones.

The Corporation decided to call for expression of interest for introducing bicycle sharing system, taken up the integrated bus stand project in Vellalore at Rs. 202.80 crore with funds from either TUFISIL or TUFIDCO, urge the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board to work for improving water supply in Kavundampalayam and Vadavalli and approved of some resolutions.

 

Demolition of historic park triggers fury in Chennai

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The Hindu       11.02.2016  

Demolition of historic park triggers fury in Chennai

Corporation plans to free up space for increasing width of stretches

On Monday night, angry residents gathered at Selvapathi Chettiyar Park on Strahans Road in Pattalam in north Chennai to protest the demolition of the park.

The action, which was being carried out under the supervision of Greater Chennai Corporation officials, was aimed at freeing up space for road-widening work.

However, with the protest gaining in intensity, Corporation workers had to beat a hasty retreat, suspending the demotion work. The protest continued throughout Tuesday, with several political parties joining in.

The park is considered special for its clock tower which had been built in memory of the pioneering labour union leader Selvapathy Chettiar.

The attempt to demolish the park is set against the backdrop of Greater Chennai Corporation’s

move to widen roads by denotifying open spaces, including parks and playgrounds, wherever necessary.

The State government had given its nod for de-notification of parks for widening 11 bus route roads, following a council resolution on November 20, 2014.

The demolition of the walls of the 2420 sq m park on Strahans Road was carried out on Monday night following a council resolution on January 27, 2016.

According to that Corporation council resolution, a private developer had been asked to develop another park in another land measuring 2701 sq m so that this park could be demolished.

The developer had planned a large township in a large parcel of land previously owned by a leading textile and engineering major in north Chennai.

The developer has already demolished some buildings without any sanction or approval of the Corporation. Due to this illegality and non-compliance with demolition norms, a case has been filed with the National Green Tribunal, according to the Corporation council resolution.

“The road has actually been planned to help a private agency develop a bus route for a new township. Residents have not permitted demolition of the clock tower which was built in memory of Selvapathy Chettiar, one of the two founders of the Madras Labour Union at Binny Mills,” said A. Vijayakumar, North Chennai, District Committee Member of CPI(M).

“Very sad. It is a great symbol of our labour struggle. He is the founding father of labour union in the whole country. It should not be demolished under any circumstances,” said historian V. Sriram.

The clock tower was inaugurated on August 4, 1948 and restored in 2004.

 

Corporation removes obstruction at taxi stand entry near Big Tank

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The Hindu       30.05.2015  

Corporation removes obstruction at taxi stand entry near Big Tank

Action follows drivers’ threat to stage a protest

Works for a road on the Big Tank bund are in full swing in Coimbatore. - Photo: M. Periasamy
Works for a road on the Big Tank bund are in full swing in Coimbatore. - Photo: M. Periasamy

Coimbatore Corporation officials on Friday demolished a portion of the compound wall that was constructed encompassing a taxi stand near the Ukkadam Big Tank.

According to the sources, the Corporation was forced to remove the compound wall and provide a pathway after vehicle owners who used the stand threatened to stage a protest if the Corporation did not remove it.

The drivers’ grouse was that despite requesting the civic body that it was a question of their livelihood, the civic body went ahead to fence the area.

To urge the Corporation to undo the damage, the drivers, led by CITU district president C. Padmanabhan, Road Transport Union State General Secretary S. Moorthy, Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union leader P.K. Sugumar and others, had planned to stage a protest.

The sources said that the Corporation officials inspected the site, agreed to have the compound wall removed and also cleared the pathway for easy entry and exit of vehicles.

The Coimbatore Corporation had been engaged in improving the eastern bund of the Ukkadam Big Tank to throw it open for light motor vehicle traffic.

 


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