The Hindu 16.08.2013
Concrete bus routes, interior roads soon
The Chennai Corporation on Friday will commence a drive to identify bus routes suitable for concrete roads.
A number of bus routes are likely to get concrete roads under the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Project (TNURIP). The civic body expects to spend at least Rs. 70 crore for the improvement of 100 bus routes this year.
However, a decision on the number of roads to be concrete-topped will be made after studying the flow of traffic and restrictions in each locality.
Concrete roads last more than 30 years but take a long time for curing and this requires heavy traffic regulation on the stretch for many days.
Interior stretches to be ready by March
Most of the 1,125 interior roads identified for concrete topping will be completed by March next year.
The civic body has issued orders for seven packages of work on interior roads. Work order for 58 additional packages will be issued next week.
The Chennai Corporation has asked utility agencies including telecom service providers, Metrowater and Tangedco to prevent digging up such stretches. A chunk of the interior roads to be concrete-topped are less than 6 metres in width; many roads range from 6-10 metres and a few are more than 10 metres wide. Concrete roads on bus routes will be more challenging, demanding meticulous planning.
Telecom service providers and cable TV operators have already planned modification of existing underground infrastructure to facilitate construction of cement concrete roads.
