CHENNAI:One of Chennai’s busiest hubs, the Chennai Central, may soon be modelled on the lines of New York’s famous Times Square and renamed Central Square, if the idea of the city’s planners finds takers.
Chennai Central, through which five lakh pedestrians pass each day, is at the intersection of six rail corridors in the city - one MRTS, three suburban and two upcoming Metro rail corridors.
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and Metro Rail have prepared a blueprint for a Rs 400 crore project to develop pedestrian subways and walkways to make the intersection people-friendly.
The plan is also to develop two bus terminuses and a three-level underground parking where the Buhari Hotel stood once and make the whole lot a complete hub of the city’s multi-modal transport system.
“We have placed a Rs 400 crore proposal to the state government. This square will be from Ripon Building to the Southern Railway headquaters,” said a Metro Rail official.
The proposal includes developing walkways along the Buckingham Canal and creating four subways 40 metres wide. The four subways would be built above the roof of underground Chennai Metro stations, but still be four metres underground.
“This would ease the congestion on this busy stretch as around five lakh people cross the road to reach Chennai Central,” said the official.
It also mooted the idea of covering the Buckingham Canal to suppress the stench or to clean the canal.
Asked if it would be modelled as New York’s Times Square, the official said that while ideas may have been borrowed from Times Square, the Central Square was intended to meet Chennai’s requirements. The project is likely to be CMDA funded.
The focus would be the spot where the Buhari Hotel was once stood. “We are converting this into two bus terminuses - one for omni buses and another for local buses. We will also be building a three-level underground parking below the terminus. This can house more than 1,000 vehicles in addition to two-wheelers,” said the source.
Chennai Metro Rail is also preparing to share its ideas on the Central Square. “This won’t be 200 metres high. The structure will be of normal height but it will be an added attraction. It will have eateries and will meet the commuters’ needs,” said the official.