The Times of India 04.11.2009

CHENNAI: Despite the city corporation's ban on all utility departments digging roads, effective October 1, a contractor engaged by the civic agency is now at work on North Usman Road, digging the road near the flyover, to construct a storm water drain.

During the pre-monsoon preparedness meet convened in September, a high-level team led by mayor M Subramanian and commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni had advised departments such as Metrowater and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to halt digging of roads as it could prove to be dangerous to motorists during the rain.

Ironically, the corporation's own contractors are not adhering to the rule despite the north-east monsoon setting in last week. In the past two days, contract labourers have dug up North Usman Road. "Our target is a 150-metre stretch. We will finish digging the portion up to Bazullah Road in a fortnight. Construction of concrete drains will soon begin," workers at the site said.

The work began at the junction of Murugesan Street and North Usman Road a few days ago. The worst-hit are pedestrians and motorists as mounds of dug-out earth have narrowed the arterial road. "A large number of vehicles pile up at the end of the flyover where the service lane begins. There is no policeman to regulate the traffic, which is getting from bad to worse," said Arunachalam, a resident.

When contacted, officials said the work could not be executed during the festival season as police had denied permission. "The work will help alleviate the sufferings of locals; it will be completed soon," said a senior official.

The labourers will dig up to a depth of at least six feet, to lay a reinforced cement concrete drain. The floodwater run-off will reach Venkatnarayana Road before moving to the Mambalam canal and the Adyar river. The drain was a pressing need, said sources, as the residential colonies near the arterial road got flooded even after a drizzle.

"Corporation officials should not have allowed people to dig the road in the first place as rains will wreak havoc. Work should have begun before the rainy season or after. Elderly citizens and schoolchildren are the worst affected," said Kamala Govindarajan of Hanumantha Street.

Deccan Chronicle 04.11.2009

State plans major drive to acquire land for flyovers

Chennai, Nov. 3: To ensure that the ongoing flyover works in the city were not hit by land acquisition and encroachment disputes, a high-level meeting comprising officials from Chennai collectorate, revenue department and city corporation was held at the Ripon Buildings on Tuesday to organise a major land acquisition drive.

According to mayor M. Subramanian, 7.5 grounds of land at Cenetoph Road near Nandanam was required for widening the approach roads. The corporation had identified 26 properties for acquisition. The property owners approached the court against the acquisition. Recently, the court passed orders in favour of the Chennai Corporation. Subsequently land acquisition drive began on Monday and will be completed by Wednesday. Before the end of this month, the new flyover will be thrown open for public by chief minister M Karunanidhi, he said.

Similarly, the corporation would acquire 21 grounds of encroached land along the bund of Adyar river to ensure that the stormwater flow into the river was not affected during monsoon. A private farm owner has been cultivating spinach at a sprawling area of 41 grounds in the middle of Adyar river. A team of revenue and corporation officials would visit the spot on Wednesday near Saidapet and verify the patta and documents available with the private farm. If the patta and land deed were found invalid, the corporation would take over the spinach garden, the mayor said.