Chennai Builders Unite to Develop Good Pavements

May 11, 2009	(Be the first to rate this story!)  Loading ...
Print This Story   Email This Story Subscribe Newsletter

After building dwelling units for Chennaiites all these years, builders in the city have now embarked on a new mission giving a facelift to the pavements with a view to restoring them to their rightful users, the pedestrians. Tamil Nadu chapter of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI), a 76-member body of Chennai’s leading builders, has joined hands with Chennai City Connect to make good pavements a concrete reality. Prakash Challa, CREDAI Tamil Nadu president, said his organisation would provide all technical assistance such as the survey, planning and architectural designs of the pavements.

Chennai City Connect, an NGO, provides a platform for various bodies to come together for executing programmes for the betterment of the city and CREDAI is a member of this forum. In November, Chennai City Connect had signed up with the Chennai corporation to upgrade and maintain pavements. Challa said CREDAI members would sponsor the entire cost except the actual execution of the job, which the corporation will carry out. About 125 locations had been identified across the city for pavement upgradation works, he said and added that the pilot project would be carried out in Adyar. Akshaya Homes has volunteered to sponsor the Adyar pilot project. T Chitty Babu, Akshaya CMD said, “We have prepared the architectural design for developing pavements on both sides of the road from Adyar telephone exchange to L B Road junction and from Malar Hospital to Madhya Kailash, a distance of roughly 2km at a cost of Rs 8 lakh.”

If accepted, the corporation will carry out the works worth Rs 60 lakh along this stretch. About 30 architects, mostly youngsters, were working with Chennai City Connect for this ambitious project, which could change the face of the city itself. The blueprints were being prepared in consultation with various agencies like the Corporation, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Metrowater, traffic police, traders and residents, Prakash Challa said. “All stakeholders including the builders who sponsor the project, would be part of the committee which would monitor the implementation of the work as well as its maintenance. The builders have also volunteered to maintain the pavements for the first five years,”he added.

Apart from the design of the pavements, the template would also look at signages, traffic signals and islands, pedestrian crossing facilities and landscaping, said Chitty Babu. Raj Cherubal, coordinator of Chennai City Connect, said, “Based on the success of the pilot project, we have plans to replicate it on all roads coming under the corporation limits. For that, Chennai City Connect will sign up with individual builders who are willing to sponsor the projects.” SSPDL and Jain Housing have come forward to provide technical support in T Nagar area at a cost of Rs 9 lakh. However, the three arterial roads in the city Anna Salai, Poonamallee High Road and Inner Ring Road (100 Feet Road) will not be covered under this programme as they fall under the highways department.

News Published Under:   Chennai, Real Estate Developers |

Comments