The Hindu 30.04.2013
800 roads to be re-laid using funds saved from projects
If you are a resident of one of the added areas and if
an interior road is damaged, this is the time to remind your councillor
or call 1913.
More interior roads in the added areas
of Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur,
Perungudi and Sholinganallur will be re-laid using savings made from the
first mega city development mission works in the city.
The
Chennai Corporation has started preparing a list of 800 additional
roads, after the government has approved the use of the savings of
around Rs.100 crore, made by the Corporation in the first megacity
development mission work, for the development of interior roads.
The
mega city development mission includes improvement of civic
infrastructure with a grid system of roads, more streetlights, street
furniture, footpaths and improved stormwater drains.
Under the first phase, a grid system was planned for all eight zones comprising the expanded areas of the Corporation.
A
total of Rs. 333.27 crore was approved by the Corporation for
implementation of the grid system covering 360 roads in the first phase.
However, many works were not taken up because of simultaneous
Metrowater works and other similar civic works.
As a
large part of the mega city development mission funds were allocated for
Metrowater, the Chennai Corporation had to drop some works on stretches
where Metrowater had to dig roads. Some stretches were included in the
hope that Metrowater works would be completed in a few months.
However,
some of these Metrowater works were not completed because of various
issues faced at the local level, including traffic restrictions in
place. Some savings were made on stretches that were improved yet
modified to suit the restrictions of traffic police or other
departments.
Despite all odds, the Chennai
Corporation completed around 10,000 civic infrastructure works in
2012-2013 at a capital expenditure of Rs. 705 crore, the highest till
now.