CHENNAI: The proposed Chennai Central Square is likely to undergo changes in its design to get the Coastal Regulation Zone clearance and also to ensure there is no traffic congestion in one of the busiest areas where the city’s entire transport network amalgamates.
Catering to five lakh pedestrians per day, Chennai Central is at the intersection of six rail corridors passing through the city - one MRTS, three suburban and two upcoming Metro rail corridors.
Work on Chennai Central Square project, which was announced by the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in 2015, hasn’t started as Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is yet to give the required clearances, a senior official told Express.
It is learnt that the proposed design of Chennai Central Square may undergo changes. “It was only a conceptual design. The design has been reworked and submitted to CMDA,” the official said.
The Central Square, which would encompass important landmarks of Chennai City such as Ripon Buildings, Victoria Public Hall, Central Suburban Station, Chennai Central Station, Southern Railway headquarters building, Madras Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Park Town, MRTS station, Park Station and Ramasamy Mudaliar choultry is to be developed at a cost of `389.42 crore.
One of the biggest challenges before the Central Square Project is to have multi-modal integration. Sources said the land needed would be more as parking requirements of not only Metro but also of railways have to be taken into account.
Meanwhile, the 17th high-powered committee meeting, chaired by the Chief Secretary recently, has permitted the proposal by Chennai Metro to acquire 458.60 sqm of Park Town Road to be developed as Central Square. “The land is required as it bifurcates the permanent land of Metro Rail and creates hindrance to the development of Central Square,” the sources said.
The proposal was approved based on the condition that there will be provision of access to Park station under the Central Square Project.
Barrier-free
The proposed Chennai Central City Square would be developed as a multimodal transport hub. It is expected to be heritage-friendly and sustainable. It will also be solar passive and green-scaped as also user-friendly and barrier-free. It was approved based on the condition that there will be provision of access to Park station under the Central Square Project
Multi-modal
1. The development plan for Central Square was prepared by Rajendran Associates
2. The focus of development plan was on inter-modal connectivity
3. Connection through subways - Park Station, Park Town, MRTS Station, CMRL, Bus station, private modes etc
4. Provision for bus bays
5. Conservation of heritage building
6. Buckingham canal to be covered for a short stretch and landscaped as pedestrian plaza
7. Parking and underground multi-level parking for cars and two-wheelers
8. Bus station to accommodate 30 buses