Urban News

The Hindu  08.10.2010

Rs. 20 crore for road work in Tuticorin

Staff Reporter

DEVELOPMENT:Mayor R.Kasturi Thangam addressing the Corporation Council meeting in Tuticorin on Thursday. Commissioner P. Kubendran is also seen.

TUTICORIN: Road infrastructure development is to be taken up by Tuticorin Corporation at a cost of Rs. 20 crore with financial support of State Government.

New roads would be laid over a stretch of 45 kilometres and 50 locations at important places had been identified for the purpose. Tuticorin Corporation Council gave its nod for undertaking the work at an urgent meeting convened here on Thursday.

Mayor R. Kasthuri Thangam, who presided over the meeting, said that more importance was being accorded to develop road infrastructure. Since laying of pipelines for underground drainage was in progress, re-laying of roads was getting delayed. Road work would be taken up in most of the places where laying of pipelines have been completed. The road work would commence in January 2011.

Due to the upcoming rainy season, the commencement of road work had to be postponed to January, she said. The council imposed a ban on use of plastics which are less than twenty micron thickness. A fine of up to Rs. 1, 000 would be slapped for violation. The Mayor also approved the tender for privatisation of solid waste management.

Commissioner P. Kubendran informed the councillors that electoral roll preparation for State Legislative Council elections was progressing and eligible voters could enrol either for Tamil Nadu South Teachers' constituency or Tamil Nadu South Graduates' constituency. The deadline for enrolment was November 6. Enrolment could be made either with Commissioner of Corporation or Deputy Tehsildars.

During the meeting, councillor V.S.R. Prabhu staged a walkout demanding the re-christening of Ash Memorial Park after freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram.

The Hindu  08.10.2010

Over 88 km to be developed under special roads project

Special Correspondent

Tendering process for the project to be completed by December 15

TIRUCHI: The Tiruchi Corporation has finalised the roads to be taken up for development under the Special Roads Project 2010-11 as per the parameters laid down by the government.

The State government has allotted about Rs.25 crore for the Corporation under the project.

Utilising the funds, the Corporation has decided to develop about 88.16 km of the city roads. Of these, cement concrete roads would be laid for a total distance of about 41 km and strengthen black topped roads to a distance of 47 km, Corporation Commissioner T.T.Balsamy told The Hindu on Thursday.

The entire tendering process for the project would be completed by December 15, by which time the monsoon was expected to subside.

All the works are targeted to be completed by March 31, Mr.Balsamy said.

Though black topping works would be taken up after the rain subsides, work on laying cement concrete works would be begin once the tenders were awarded. The works would be taken up under 32 packages.

Though the Corporation had sought about Rs.37.20 to develop 164.81 km of roads in the city under the project, the list of works have been pruned based on the government allocation now.

The project was announced by the Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi during his Independence Day address for developing roads in urban local bodies across the state with a total allocation of Rs.1,000 crore. The Corporation had taken up a survey to identify the roads to be developed under the project based on parameters laid down by the Directorate of Municipal Administration.

Roads that have not been re-laid over the past five years, those dug up for laying sewer or drinking water lines or damaged by natural calamity are to given priority.

Nearly 40 per cent of the roads identified would be re-laid using paver machines or converted into cement concrete roads.