CHENNAI: Work on the much-awaited satellite bus terminus in Madhavaram, for people going to Andhra Pradesh and further, has begun. The terminus is being set up at the intersection of Grand Northern Trunk Road (GNT) and Inner Ring Road.
The Madhavaram bus terminus was one of the two intended to decongest Koyambedu. Work on the other one is yet to begin due to hurdles in finding suitable land. However, it is learnt that there are issues about the entry and exit points of the terminus.
Concerns have been raised that the width of the road to the terminus does not satisfy the planning norms. Moreover, it is located near the existing truck terminal, which may lead to congestion on the highways nearby.
Initially announced in 2011, the project faced several hurdles. Its first feasibility report was unfavourable and stated that the terminus would cause congestion of the Inner Ring Road, due to regular movement of trucks. The project at Madhavaram was then put on hold until a fresh feasibility report was prepared in 2015.
Last November, the project was submitted for plan approval. While it is learnt that the planning approval is yet to be granted and officials raised questions about it on April 22, the contract to work on the project was awarded to BNR Infrastructure Projects Limited earlier this year.
A top CMDA official reasoned that work on government projects could begin after receiving ‘planning clearance’ and prior planning permission is not mandatory for government projects as per the Town and Country Planning Act.
As the highway cannot have a direct opening for buses, it is proposed to have an entry from GNT Road to a 40 feet road and then an approach road into the bus terminus. But the hitch is that two public-purpose plots will have to be converted for use by the bus terminus.
The CMDA official defended the project saying that it was designed by experts. “The design has been reviewed and the required changes have been incorporated,” he said.
Questions raised over the bus terminus plan
The land has no patta Issues about the entry and exit points for the bus terminus
The site has a high tension Electricity
Board line which passes through the site and has to be removed
The road’s width should be as per development regulations
Factfile
The project was announced in the Assembly in 2011
A feasibility report said the project on eight acres of land was not feasible as it would cause traffic congestion
The report stated that the regular movement of trucks could cause congestion
The bus terminus project was revived last year and a feasibility report was prepared again
Planning permission for the project was sought by CMDA in November
The cost of the project escalated to `80 crore
Questions were raised about the proposed plan
The project was awarded to BNR Infrastructure at a cost of `94 crore