CHENNAI: Giving a boost to the road infrastructure in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu government announced construction of new bridges at certain places in order to ease congestion, besides mitigating the flood woes. Ministe r for Municipal Administration, Rural Development and Special Programme Implementation SP Velumani told the Assembly on Monday three new bridges would come up at Amullaivayal, Vadaperumbakkam and Burma Nagar across the surplus canal of Puzhal lake. These bridges are to be constructed at a cost of `44.25 crore.
Apart from giving a fillip to the road infrastructure, the proposed bridges would help mitigate the woes of the public during monsoon as the sub-paths in these areas were prone to be flooded. Another bridge is proposed to be constructed at Elephant Gate replacing the existing one which is in a damaged condition.
The minister said the bridge would come up between the Central and Basin Bridge stations and `30 crore is earmarked.
In Otteri, a new bridge is proposed to be constructed to replace the existing one located across the Otteri canal to connect the Cooks Road and Dr Ambedkar Road. The government will spend `67.76 crore for the project.
With a view to addressing flood woes, a project worth `30 crore is announced to construct a retaining wall and strengthen storm water structure between Medavakkam Road and Otteri bridge on Konnur high road. The project is envisaged to avert flooding of Ehangipuram canal.
Water connectivity
Aimed at saving the public from draining money and energy, the government announced a new initiative to incorporate household connections with project details of drinking water projects.
“Without approaching the concerned local bodies, the public can get water connections through the new drinking water projects. This scheme will be implemented in all corporations and municipalities,” said G Prakash, Commissioner for Municipal Administration. The same method will be adopted in giving underground drainage connections.