CHENNAI: The under-construction satellite bus terminus in Madhavaram, which will accommodate commuters going to neighbouring Andhra and other northern regions, is facing a fresh set of issues with regard to access for buses entering the terminus, due to the presence of a truck terminus nearby.
Built on eight acres of land at a cost of `95 crore, the project, which faced feasibility issues and was stalled initially due to heavy truck movement and vehicular congestion in the area, had been revived and implemented on December 20, 2016. Officials, however, feel that accessibility issues facing buses entering the Madhavaram Bus Terminus could be sorted out if the heavy and small vehicle parking area is shifted.
Sources said that open space reserve (OSR) area of the truck terminus, which lies next to the satellite bus terminus, was handed to Madhavaram Municipality, is the likely space wherein the heavy vehicle parking area could be transferred. This could be against the tenets of the approved layout of the truck terminus but officials say they have no other choice as it is the only option to avoid congestion within the truck terminus complex.
Sources indicated that Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) officials did not revise the layout and submitted a proposal to the Housing and Urban Development Department seeking exemption under Section 113 of Town and Country Planning Act for waiver of providing the OSR area within Madhavaram Bus and Truck Terminus Complex.
It is learnt that even the patta of the land for project is not in favour of CMDA and sources question the feasibility of going ahead with a project that was not considered feasible as per the earlier report.
Project factfile