The Hindu 06.08.2013
First phase of bicycle tracks to take off soon
The Chennai Corporation is set to start work on the first phase of cycle tracks on the Marina Loop Road.
A
7-km-long cycle track and a musical fountain on Marina beach was
announced by the Mayor earlier this year. The civic body, however, has
decided to implement the project in phases. Works taken up under the
first phase will include design of concrete roads, footpaths, cycle
tracks and landscaping along the stretch from Light House to
Srinivasapuram.
The architects will hold discussions
with the civic body this week. The civic body had earlier prepared
estimates for beautification of the stretch at a cost of Rs. 20 crore.
Now the proposal has been dropped to integrate other aspects such as
cycle tracks and aesthetic lighting arrangement.
The
stretch of Marina Loop Road has been in a bad shape for many years. Rise
in traffic diverted by the police through the stretch has exposed the
deficient civic infrastructure on the stretch. “Unidentified persons
dump construction and demolition debris on the stretch. Lorries come at
night, dump debris and vanish. We are unable to stop the practice. The
beautification of the stretch with cycle tracks may prevent such dumping
of waste,” said R. Bommi, councillor of the locality.
The next phase is likely to cover roads such as Wallajah Road and Swami Sivananda Salai.
The
first phase is expected to emerge as yet another attempt to beautify
the beach. The previous council had spent Rs. 25.92 crore on the Marina
beach beautification project, which was completed in December 2009. Last
year, the Mayor announced a beach beautification project. But the
proposal failed to take off over issues related to resettlement of
shopkeepers on the stretch between Triumph of Labour Statue and Light
House. However, the beautification of the stretch from Light House to
Srinivasapuram is expected to be carried out without any stumbling
blocks.
The regulation of shopkeepers on the stretch
from Triumph of Labour Statue to Light House and subsequent
beautification will be implemented only after a Madras High Court
judgment. The High Court, in January, granted an interim injunction
restraining authorities from allowing anybody to carry on business and
run shops on the entire stretch of the Marina.
Works
on concrete roads, footpaths, and landscaping along the stretch of
Marina Loop Road from Light House to Srinivasapuram will be taken up.