Three key roads in Chennai to be redesigned for better mobility

CHENNAI: Khader Nawaz Khan Road in Nungambakkam, Second Avenue in Anna Nagar and 100 Feet Road in Velachery will be redesigned to ensure better mobility, utility and livability, the corporation has decided.
The proposal will be ready by year-end, said an official. “We plan to take up 100km of roads under mega streets project and have held meetings with architects and consultants. But first will ensure they have better footpaths, play area, road infrastructure and utilities will be made underground using ducts.The life of the street will increase by 30 years and ensure it is not dug up,” said corporation commissioner G Prakash.
The pedestrian plaza at T Nagar (Pondy Bazaar) is a similar model, but these streets will not have the same features as each has its own requirements, he said. “We will make them usable for all including cyclists, pedestrians, differently abled, children, women and others.”
Ashwathy Dilip of Institute of Transport and Development policy said the three roads had been laid keeping in mind vehicular traffic. “But field visits show they are used by all types,” she said. A senior corporation official said they will ensure a minimum carriageway width of 3m-3.5m.
“The designs will be based on the type of road use and existing width,” said an official. The cost of construction of 1km will be between Rs 10 crore and Rs 20 crore. In Pondy bazaar, where the pedestrian plaza is in the final stages, the launch of on-street parking management system is expected to solve a major issue.
The multi-level car parking project on Thanickachalam Road is set to be launched in a year and footpaths with ducting are set to come up on Venkatanarayana Road, GN Chetty Road, North and Usman Road and South Usman Road.