The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Corporation move to provide extra road space

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Sunday, Feb 15, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Corporation move to provide extra road space

Deepa H Ramakrishnan

Drive to blacktop margins of around 75 km of roads

— FILE PHOTO

Easing congestion: The Chennai Corporation has taken up end-to-end blacktopping work along many stretches. A traffic jam in Perambur.

CHENNAI: In an effort to provide additional space to vehicle users, the Chennai Corporation has embarked on a drive to blacktop margins of around 75 km of roads in the city.

The unused space between the footpaths and the road is being filled with tar topping. This is being done only in places where there is clay and water percolation is impossible. Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni told The Hindu that of the 300 km of bus routes, 75 km was targeted and 30 km completed till date.

“We are not disturbing the pavements in any way. In places where streetlights were on roads they have been shifted inside the footpaths. We are getting 2-3 feet of additional space on these roads.” Apart from providing additional space, Mr. Lakhoni said this would help keep the roads cleaner.

“This space is generally not used and garbage and dirt pile up. Dirty water stagnates there making it impossible to clean that portion of the road. Black topping will keep it clean.”

Areas, including Anna Nagar Second and Third Avenues, Kilpauk Garden Road, Perambur High Road, Tondiarpet High Road and Alwarpet, have been covered under the drive. A sum of Rs.70 lakh had been spent till now and an additional Rs.2 crore would be spent, Mr. Lakhoni said.

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