The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Upgrade, yes, but in stages: trade

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Friday, Feb 18, 2011
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Upgrade, yes, but in stages: trade

K. Lakshmi

Koyambedu infrastructure project timetable sparks gridlock concerns

— Photo: S.S. Kumar

Improvements on anvil: A host of infrastructural facilities at the Koyambedu market in Chennai will be improved as part of the project, which is scheduled to begin next month.

CHENNAI: A project to improve infrastructure at the Koyambedu wholesale market complex is set to begin next month.

While welcoming the move to provide better facilities, traders and visitors to the market felt that simultaneous implementation of all the works would result in congestion.

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority had released Rs.33.63 crore to take up works such as construction of stormwater drain, laying of roads and undertaking electrical repairs. Sources in the Market Management Committee said the project has been divided into four packages and evaluation of the tenders is in progress. The deadline for project completion is nine months.

There are plans to concretise a portion of the ‘A' road opposite the bio-methanation plant and provide bitumen layer in the rest for longer durability of the road. Similarly, a portion of the link road, which is not coming under the Metro Rail project, would be re-laid. Laying of concrete roads would take more time than the bitumen roads, sources said.

Of the 12 km-stormwater drain network, a stretch of 8 km would be repaired and reconstructed.

According to wholesale traders, a portion of the road linking Poonamallee High Road near Nerkundram to the market and the ‘E' road adjacent to the market have been earmarked for the Chennai Metro Rail project. Vehicle movement and parking has already been restricted on these stretches.

If the road laying works inside and around the market is taken up simultaneously, it would further compound the problems as on an average, nearly 5,000 vehicles, including lorries that bring produce, come to the market daily, they said. Members of the Koyambedu Wholesale Traders' Association said the authorities concerned must plan the work in a phased manner and consider provision of alternate space for vehicles before starting the project.

The ongoing road laying work in the three truck bays are being done in a phased manner for want of space for vehicle parking. Visitors to the market want the MMC to consult the utility service providers such as the Chennai Metrowater and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation before implementing the project. This would help in preventing road cuts.

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