The Hindu                 30.04.2013

Work on laying road to Ananda Bridge begins

Land acquired after giving compensation to the owners.

The work on laying approach road on both sides of the Ananda Bridge has begun on Monday and it is expected to be completed in six months.

As part of Thirumanimutharu River Improvement Project, the construction of bridge connecting Second Agraharam Road and Town Railway Station Road was over at a cost of Rs. 1.4 crore, but could not be used as the approach road was not laid. Land acquisition for laying approach roads, financial constraints and other issues delayed the project for many years.

With increasing traffic congestion and the public demand for opening the bridge, a temporary approach road was laid allowing two-wheelers to use the bridge.

The Corporation officials then submitted a fresh proposal for land acquisition and permission for completing the project.

Clearance was obtained from Housing and Urban Development, Finance, Municipal Administration and Water Supply and Directorate of Town and Country Planning and the government allocated Rs. 3.8 crore for land acquisition.

After verification of documents, nine land owners were given a compensation of Rs. 1.8 crore while two land owners are to be given Rs. 2 crore for a total of 10,343.75 sq.ft. land acquired.

The building on the right side of the approach road on Agraharam Road is to be demolished and one side of the 70 m approach road is to be laid.

Likewise, a part of the building on the other side of the bridge is to be demolished and approach road laid.

Mayor S. Soundappan laid the foundation stone for the work.

Commissioner M. Ashokan, Deputy Mayor N. Natesan, Zone chairman, councillors, Superintending Engineers K. Balasubramaniam, Engineers G. Kamaraj, S. Venkatesh, A. Ashokan, and Assistant Engineer C. Ravi were present.

The Hindu                 30.04.2013

800 roads to be re-laid using funds saved from projects

If you are a resident of one of the added areas and if an interior road is damaged, this is the time to remind your councillor or call 1913.

More interior roads in the added areas of Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur will be re-laid using savings made from the first mega city development mission works in the city.

The Chennai Corporation has started preparing a list of 800 additional roads, after the government has approved the use of the savings of around Rs.100 crore, made by the Corporation in the first megacity development mission work, for the development of interior roads.

The mega city development mission includes improvement of civic infrastructure with a grid system of roads, more streetlights, street furniture, footpaths and improved stormwater drains.

Under the first phase, a grid system was planned for all eight zones comprising the expanded areas of the Corporation.

A total of Rs. 333.27 crore was approved by the Corporation for implementation of the grid system covering 360 roads in the first phase. However, many works were not taken up because of simultaneous Metrowater works and other similar civic works.

As a large part of the mega city development mission funds were allocated for Metrowater, the Chennai Corporation had to drop some works on stretches where Metrowater had to dig roads. Some stretches were included in the hope that Metrowater works would be completed in a few months.

However, some of these Metrowater works were not completed because of various issues faced at the local level, including traffic restrictions in place. Some savings were made on stretches that were improved yet modified to suit the restrictions of traffic police or other departments.

Despite all odds, the Chennai Corporation completed around 10,000 civic infrastructure works in 2012-2013 at a capital expenditure of Rs. 705 crore, the highest till now.