The Hindu 22.01.2014
Santhome Road to be widened
The 1.6-km-long Santhome High Road is all set to be the
first among the major roads suffering from traffic bottlenecks to be
widened by Chennai Corporation.
The civic body will
soon commence preparation of a land plan schedule for widening the
stretch from Light House to Foreshore Estate. Following the preparation
of the schedule, the district collectorate will appoint a special
officer for the land acquisition process.
“The land
acquisition will take a long time. Transfer of Development Rights could
be a good option if land owners cooperate. The widening can be done in a
few months. Option is left to the land owners,” said an official of
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).
The
crucial link for the city’s southern zones passes through wards 125 and
126. Councillors of the wards said there was heavy traffic congestion
on the road and the widening would have a positive impact on the
neighbourhood.
“Residents need a wider road. But the
widening should be done without any loss to land owners,” said Vijaya
Lakshmi, councillor of ward 126.
“The Corporation
should convince the land owners of the importance of widening the road.
Otherwise residents may not accept it,” said R. Bommi, councillor of
ward 125.
As a number of educational institutions and
heritage buildings are located on the road, the Corporation will also
have to obtain clearance from the Heritage Conservation Committee of the
Chennai metropolitan area.
At a council meeting last
year, the Corporation had announced its plan to widen a number of the
city’s major roads that witness traffic bottlenecks. The Corporation had
already decided to use development rights certificates (DRCs) to
facilitate implementation of its road-widening projects. The Corporation
council will recommend issuing DRCs to property owners likely to be
affected by widening of other roads including Nelson Manickam Road, VOC
Road in George Town, Paper Mills Road, Kaliamman Koil Street and Red
Hills High Road. DRCs entitle owners to claim additional built-up area
(floor space index) in lieu of the plot of land handed over. Based on
the recommendation of the Corporation, CMDA will issue DRCs to affected
residents.
The 1.6-km-long high road is the first among major roads suffering from traffic bottlenecks to be widened by Corporation.