CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced that new subways would be constructed at a cost of `23 crore at six important places in the city — near the Gandhi statue on Marina Beach, Gangadheeswarar temple in Purasawalkam, Ayanavaram-Konnur High Road, NSK Road (Vadapalani), Meenakshi College (Kodambakkam), near the Metro Rail station on Inner Ring Road at Arumbakkam and Alandur (on GST Road).
Making a suo moto statement in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) would execute these subways on a priority basis during the current financial year in consultation with the Chennai Corporation and State Highways Department and with assistance from the Infrastructure Development Fund.
Jayalalithaa said a comprehensive study was carried out under the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project III with World Bank assistance to put in place sustainable infrastructure for transport in the Chennai Metropolitan area. The study found that the city needs many new subways to help pedestrians cross roads safely since vehicle population was always increasing.
During her speech, the CM also announced that an office complex would be constructed above the Velachery MRTS station at a cost of `40 crore. The complex would come up in an area of 1.11 lakh sqft. When the MRTS-II was in its conceptual stage, the State government was given permission to utilise the space above the stations for constructing commercial complexes. The CMDA has appointed consultants and architectural experts for designing these complexes and they have come up with modern parking slots and other facilities. The consultants had also prepared a feasibility report for improving the proposed commercial complex.