The Hindu            01.10.2013

Work on diversion channel begins at Koyambedu

K. Lakshmi

After much meticulous planning and a change in design, the long-pending project to construct a diversion channel that will carry water from Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam canal to Cooum river has finally started.

Residents of areas, including Koyambedu, Chinmaya Nagar and Virugambakkam, who face the constant threat of flooding during monsoon may get a respite once the work taken up by the Water Resources Department (WRD) is completed.

The project, which was devised nearly four years ago, underwent a change in design to avoid traffic-related problems in busy Koyambedu, especially around the wholesale market complex and mofussil bus terminus.

Apart from work to improve the canal itself, the project involves the construction of a 2,200-metre-long channel to divert excess water of 400 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from the canal to Cooum river.

Doing away with the earlier plan to construct the entire channel on Kaliamman Koil Street and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, the department has now started work on the premises of the sewage treatment plant owned by Chennai Metrowater. As a major portion of the channel would be built inside the STP, there would be no interruption to traffic flow, said an official. The diversion channel will travel via Metrowater STP, near CMBT on Kaliamman Koil Street, Koyambedu and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai and cross Poonamallee High Road to join the Cooum.

Officials of the WRD said the project involved co-ordination of various departments such as Highways, Chennai Corporation, Chennai Metrowater and CMBT. This had led to the delay in starting the work under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, they said.

“We expect the work to be completed at a fast pace as the construction of the four-metre-wide and two-metre-high channel would involve the use of precast structures,” said an official. Work is set to be completed in one year.

The Times of India             27.09.2013

Corporation to set up bus shelters with maps, heritage details

CHENNAI: Soon-to-be-set-up bus shelters in the city will contain more than information about bus timings.

Chennai Corporation officials said the 108 bus shelters that will come up in different areas will include details about different routes and frequency of services and accessibility to the nearest railway station and bus depots through other forms of transport. The area map in each shelter will display information about schools, hospitals, religious institutions and government offices in the locality.

"We also plan to write a brief history and traditions of the neighbourhood for the benefit of commuters. It will also help heritage lovers," said a corporation official.

Now, most bus shelters in the city are covered with advertisements and posters and there is little of what commuters want. In 2008, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation introduced, at some bus stops along the 21G (Tambaram-Parry's) route, a service that would display the timings of buses at different stops. This, however, could not be extended to more places.

The civic body's latest move is expected to be of great help to commuters. "There are not enough display boards in the city to help find various locations. It will be nice if such details are provided on a bus shelter," said Santhosh Varghese, who recently moved to the city. He suggested that the revised autorickshaw fares can also be displayed on the shelters.

Road experts have welcomed the corporation's plan saying would lead to an increase in the number of people using public transport. "Many commuters now are unaware of the different bus routes or the places en route. Such information provided at bus shelters could be of great help," said Raj Cherubal of Chennai City Connect, an NGO working on transport issues. He said most bus shelters in cities like Singapore and at metro stations in New Delhi had area maps and information to guide passengers.

The corporation recently removed several illegal bus shelters in various parts of the city, but commuters are fuming because of the absence of an alternative. Corporation officials said a detailed survey had been completed on bus route roads across the 15 zones. "These bus shelters will be installed in places where there is no such facility. Damaged shelters will also be replaced," the official said.