CHENNAI: The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has proposed more stretches, including the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road and Velachery-Tambaram Road, to be transformed into ‘Model Urban Mobility Corridors’ under the second phase of the project. The authority has decided to prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) for the proposed corridors, for which tenders are expected to be invited this week.
Under Phase 1, CUMTA has already proposed transforming the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road into model urban mobility corridors. The DPR for the two stretches is now being re-tendered after CUMTA cancelled the earlier bid due to technical issues. A pre-bid meeting for the fresh tender was held on Tuesday.
The Phase-1 proposal covers 25 km of OMR from Madhya Kailash to Kelambakkam and 7.4 km of Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Road from Pallavaram Bridge to Thoraipakkam junction. Under Phase 2, CUMTA has proposed Taramani Link Road, Marmalange Bridge-Wallajah Road, Velachery-Tambaram Road and GST Road for similar interventions.
The objective is to develop primary mobility corridors linked to railway stations, MRTS stations, metro stations, bus terminals and bus stands, thereby improving last-mile connectivity and multimodal integration. Public spaces under flyovers and grade separators, above subways and roads integrated with parks will also be upgraded, an official said.
According to a CUMTA document, the DPR will focus on reducing or maintaining the status quo of annual per capita greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector by promoting walking and cycling, discouraging private vehicle use, reducing vehicle idling at intersections and easing traffic congestion. The total length of the roads to be taken up for the Phase-2 will be known once the tender is floated.
The proposed corridors will prioritise non-motorised transport and public transport, while incorporating comprehensive road safety measures and urban development alongside the road network.
A CUMTA official said the authority would prepare the DPRs, while the state highways department would implement the projects. For OMR and Radial Road, civic works for the model corridors will be taken up after completion of metro rail works and are expected to take around two years, since the road would be damaged again if the upgrades are done before completing the metro works.
Upgrades proposed
Uniform carriageways with green medians Dedicated service lanes Rehabilitation and widening of culverts and bridges Grade separators Pedestrian facilities Traffic calming measures Green corridors Designated bus bays and stops Parking facilities and cycling infrastructure