The Times of India 27.08.2014
Residents drive civic makeover in Chetpet & Nungambakkam
In an encouraging trend, many residents’ welfare associations in the
city are coming forward to play a major role in the re-development of
their locality. After residents of Harrington Road in Chetpet petitioned
the corporation into coming up with a makeover plan, the civic body is
considering similar re-development for Khader Nawaz Khan Road in
Nungambakkam following representations from residents.
On Wednesday, senior corporation officials are scheduled to meet
residents of Khader Nawaz Khan Road to discuss the proposal. “There are
plans to recover Open Space Reservation lands and construct road side
parks, pavements and a parking lot. We are also considering the
concretisation of the stretch. All these proposals would be incorporated
with the ideas of the residents,” said a corporation official.
Many in the area say the neighbourhood, off Nungambakkam High Road, has
changed from a quiet residential locality to a bustling commercial area
over the last 10 years. “There has been a gradual increase in the
number of commercial establishments in this area and we are struggling
because of the illegal parking,” said a resident.
K
Chandrasekaran, councillor of ward 110 where Khader Nawaz Khan Road is
located, said roadside parks had disappeared. “Many commercial firms are
using it as a pathway. Residents had filed several representations
about mushrooming illegal shops to civic authorities.”
Meanwhile, the 9.9 crore redevelopment project for Harrington Road,
which involves laying concrete roads and granite footpaths, is in
progress. The Harrington Road Residents’ Welfare Association had
conducted a survey and petitioned the civic body to transform it.
However, some commuters say the work is not progressing fast. “There was
no fault with the old road. But the civic body had simply dug up the
road for a section of people, ” said P Kumar, a regular commuter.
On Tuesday, mayor Saidai S Duraisamy and corporation commissioner
Vikram Kapur visited the road and told contractors to speed up the work.
