The Times of Indian 25.08.2009
Mayor says 90% work on Marina beautification over
CHENNAI: The beautification of the Marina Beach is progressing apace with at least 90% of the works complete and the entire project is expected to be over in about two months, Mayor M Subramanian said on Monday. After inspecting work at the site, he said some works, including construction of galleries and non-slippery granite footpaths, would be finished in a month.
The Rs 20.75-crore project is part of the local body's ambitious programme to beautify the city. Work on a 3.1 km stretch between Anna Square and Light House began in Februay 2008. "We expect to complete the entire project in another two months," Subramanian told TOI.
Twelve of the 14 galleries have been built while the laying of the four metre-wide non-slippery granite footpaths and 15 metre-wide lawns is nearing completion. "Once the construction is over, people will not be allowed to take bath on the sands. We will look into the modalities of fixing a fee structure for the use of urinals and bathrooms," the mayor said.
The architect's blueprint of the project had included ornamental fountains, exclusive parking lots for four-wheelers and two-wheelers, a children's play area, bus shelters, ramps for physically-challenged and food courts. The corporation, which prohibited the sale and use of plastic on the Marina from August 15, has planned an awarness programme on August 26.
The corporation has already replaced the decade-old 250-watt lamps with 690 anti-corrosive lamps along Kamaraj Salai and along the service road as part of the project.
Several walkers, including film producer AVM Saravanan, told the Mayor about the damaged kerbs, faulty aligned footpaths and water stagnation in the walking area and sought more seaters along the footpaths.
