ECR Chennai to become wider

More than 300 structures, mostly commercial buildings, between Thiruvanmiyur and Sholinganallur are likely to be demolished for the widening of East Coast Road (ECR).

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Projects (CMDP) wing of the state highways department has identified the buildings so that the work to widen the 11.8km stretch can begin.

Sources said detailed revised estimates were submitted to the government recently.The estimates include cost of land acquisition of Rs 350 crore and construction costs of Rs 50 crore.

A survey by the state highways department has identified 8.752 hectares on both sides of the stretch for the project. “The project will be discussed at the upcoming departmental budgetary meeting on April 20, and is expected to get clearance,” government sources said.

ECR is to be widened to six lanes between Thiruvanmiyur and Sholinganallur, a stretch maintained by the state highways.

ECR was built in 1998 by linking a series of village roads connecting 154 fishing villages along the coast. Every day, about 10,000 vehicles use the road as against 3,000 vehicles in 2001 when ECR was inaugurated. “The original estimate of the project when it was mooted in 2005 was Rs 10 crore. Any delay would result in the cost rising further,” a source said.

The government took a year to identify 30.5 metres of land required on either side of the road between Thiruvanmiyur and Sholinganallur. Land has been identified in Thiruvanmiyur, Kottivakkam, Neelankarai, Palavakkam, Injambakkam and Sholinganallur. The most land will be acquired in Injambakkam. “We have informed residents and shop owners about the project. So far no one has filed litigation,” sources said.

Sources : TIMES OF INDIA - News Reporter-Madhi

-Correspondent, Chennai Property Talks