The Hindu 20.11.2013
World-class road project kicks off
No private land to be acquired for project in Ashok Nagar
Nearly two years after the project was announced, Chennai Corporation will begin preliminary work on laying world-class roads in the city. The civic body will begin the tendering process for commissioning four of these world-class roads this week.
The State government has given administrative sanction for the first phase of the Rs.79-crore project that involves development of four roads in Ashok Nagar: Ashok Nagar 1st Avenue, 11th Avenue, 4th Avenue and Dr. Ambedkar Salai.
The civic body has asked Chennai Metrowater, telecom service providers and TANGEDCO to prepare estimates for shifting and redesigning utilities in the 3.21-km network.
“The project will be implemented without acquiring private land in any of the stretches,” said an official of Chennai Corporation.
A total of 31 roads have been identified for the development of ‘world-class’ roads in the city.
Works to be taken up in the four roads include commissioning of bicycle tracks, 10-feet-wide footpaths, bus shelters, bollards, 400-metre parallel parking on Ashok Nagar 11 Avenue, separate structure for cables and planting 425 new trees on a 1.5-feet wide tree line.
Last year, residents of roads such as Dr. Ambedkar Salai opposed the acquisition of land for the project. The consultant had originally prepared a detailed project report that called for acquisition of private lands to widen some stretches of the roads to achieve world-class standards.
The proposal was dropped after the civic body identified places of worship on stretches such as Dr. Ambedkar Salai which is only 14 m wide. The wider Ashok Nagar 11{+t}{+h}Avenue will have a bicycle track, the official added.
Actual work will have to be commissioned within a year, according to sources.
The project will also improve last mile connectivity to the proposed metro rail stations.