Metro devours Chennai parks

Construction work for the Chennai metro rail project is in full swing in the city.

Chennaiites fear that the Metro Rail will eat into or completely destroy the Corporation parks in their localities.

Residents and morning walkers are already upset over the entry ban at a few parks that the Corporation has temporarily handed over to Chennai Metro Rail Ltd to store machines and construction material.

“Recently the Corporation put up notices at a few parks located along the arterial Poonamalee High Road informing morning walkers and visitors to stay away for a few months,” said Mr M. Lokesh, a resident of Anna Nagar who periodically visits Thiru Vi Ka Park in Shenoy Nagar.

“Initially the residents and park users thought that it was a temporary arrangement and after the completion of the massive project, the parks would be restored back to their original size, but now there is news spreading that the parks will lose several grounds of their pristine land to the project,” added Ms Sudha Ramasamy, a resident of Aminjikarai.

When contacted, a highly-placed source at Ripon Building said that the parks had been handed over to the Metro Rail for storing machinery. But, he also admitted that some proposals had been submitted to acquire few grounds of land to establish the ambitious Rs 14,600-crore Metro Rail project that is meant to decongest Chennai.

“As there is no other option, Corporation parks are being considered as options. Some parts of the parks could be handed over to Metro Rail,” he said, adding, “At least two parks including Thiru Vi Ka Park in Shenoy Nagar and Nehru Park near Kilpauk will lose a few grounds of land to pave way for the upcoming Metro Rail project.”

He said the parks would, however, not be acquired in their entirety for the project.