CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Housing Board’s (TNHB) ambitious plan to set up a satellite township at Thirumazhisai, on the outskirts of the metropolis, is facing a mini roadblock after the former failed to convince the Public Works Department (PWD) to exempt it from paying the annual track rent of nearly `31 lakh for an approach road. Sources blamed this on the lack of planning, and also criticised the TNHB for overstepping its role by assuming the powers of local bodies while planning the road.
Official sources told Express that the trouble was with the 36-metre wide approach road across Bangaru Canal that is maintained by the Water Resources Department (WRD) under the PWD. The road would connect Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway 4 to Chennai-Thiruvallur High Road at the northern end through a 122.99-acre Phase I Satellite Township, which would help ease congestion.
The proposal had received the PWD nod and development work for `114.18 crore — including roads, bridge across the canal, culverts, storm water drain, underground pumps and pump rooms — is under progress.
However, the PWD imposed several conditions, including an annual track rent of `30.82 lakh. Making it a stiffer proposal, they also asked TNCB to pay `92.46 lakh in lump sum as advance towards track rent for three years.
The WRD also said that it has the right to withdraw permission issued for bridge construction and road if conditions are violated. In such an instance, it added, the TNHB would not be eligible for compensation.
The TNHB has also requested the PWD secretary to exempt it from paying the track rent, noting that cost will be passed on to those who purchase the residential flats in Phase I of the scheme, which could influence demand from the public.
This unplanned approach road is yet to be incorporated in the Second Master Plan, thus highlighting the failure on the part of the TNHB to plan the project well in advance. Sources said Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority officials have inspected the township scheme to incorporate the approach road under the Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area.
The project was conceived on September 8, 2011, when late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced the scheme, encompassing 311.05 acres of land. Chembarambakkam, Kuthambakkam, Parvatharajapuram, Narasingapuram and Vellavedu villages — all near Thirumazhisai on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway — were under its purview, and the project cost was `2,160 crore.
The first phase will be built at a cost of `245.70 crore from the TNHB fund under Section 152 of the Tamil Nadu State Housing Board Act, 1961.
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