The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Black-topped roads for Valasaravakkam soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 04, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Black-topped roads for Valasaravakkam soon

R.Sujatha

Tenders for the project have been called for

CHENNAI: Residents of Valasaravakkam panchayat, a third grade municipality, can now heave a sigh of relief. If things go according to schedule, they can look forward to black-topped roads soon.

According to residents here, the roads, laid seven years ago, have become unmotorable. Driving through interior Valasaravakkam is a nightmare even during daytime. In most areas, the road is a dirt track with big stones scattered all over.

But all that is set to change. Under the Third Tamil Nadu Urban Development project more than 80 roads will be laid.

Tenders for the project, funded by a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, have been called. The details of the tenders, which will be open for bidding till February end, are available on Tamil Nadu's Government website.

The panchayat president, V. Madhiazaghan, said work would begin by February 10.

He said applications for the project had been invited from across the country. "There are 475 roads in the panchayat. The contractors are all class I contractors and not local ones," he said. A total of Rs. 8 crore had been set aside for the work. The Highways Department's road laying machines, each costing Rs. 2 crore, would be used, he said. Beginning February, the panchayat will provide 3,000 Metrowater connections on first-come-first-served basis. Residents who have paid their sewage and property taxes and have no dues will be given connections first, Mr. Madhiazhaghan said.

Meanwhile, the tank near the Siva temple on Arcot Road had been deepened and the Tiru Vi Ka park in Alwarthiru Nagar had been cleaned up with public contribution, he said.

Solar lamps had been installed and visitors were charged Re. 1 as entry fee. The revenue of Rs. 8,000 was being used for maintenance work, which had generated employment for 300 people, he said.

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