COVID-19 updates: 345 GCC staff infected, commandos deployed to curb violations, 5 arrested for issuing fake e-pass

On June 26th, a whopping 3645 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the state, while 1,358 people were discharged and 46 deaths were recorded. Chennai alone accounted for 1,956 cases, according to the health bulletin.

Among the front line workers from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), 345 staff, including officials, have tested positive and around 50 are back to work. This includes around 120 sanitary workers, among whom 10-15 have recovered.

20 personnel from the elite Commando force have been deputed in zones in Chennai where violations have been reported frequently. The force will accompany the Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) in densely populated areas to spread awareness.

According to GCC Commissioner G Prakash, the number of tests has increased from 5,000 to 10,000 every day in Chennai. To create awareness about the virus in slums, 2,300 outreach workers have been deployed by the civic body. According to a press release, a 224-bedded new Siddha treatment facility at Vyasarpadi at Dr Ambedkar Government Arts College campus was inaugurated by GCC early this week. The Commissioner said that the civic body has been detecting more than 3,000 flu-like cases during the daily door-to-door survey after lockdown 5.0. 

While the e-pass application is an online process, five persons including two government employees have been arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) for issuing passes without verification. The violators have granted over 100 passes for traveling from Chennai to other places illegally. 

A Revenue Divisional Office (RDO) is also allegedly involved in issuing illegal passes. According to the report, many drivers and travel agencies are connected with the RDO, which is functioning from the suburbs. The fake passes are priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,000.   

Source: The Hindu | The New Indian Express | The Times of India

ROB in Velachery to be completed this year

Southern Railway officials have said that the road over bridge (ROB) construction work on the Station Road between Velachery and Taramani Mass Rapid Transit Stations (MRTS) will be completed by the year-end. The project was supposed to be completed by April, but it took a hit due to COVID-19 and labour shortage. 

Due to the delay in completion of the bridge, the Station Road work remains incomplete. The completion of ROB and Station Road would help in easing the traffic on Taramani Link Road to a large extent.

Source: The Hindu

CMDA gears up for third master plan

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) will begin preliminary work for the third master plan of the city soon. It may be noted that the second master plan is valid till 2026. According to the report, the limits will be extended up to Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts. 

A retired official says that the new plan may look at expanding metro rail connectivity and identifying new satellite towns to reduce the congestion in Chennai. Officials from the Housing and Urban Development department said that the World Bank has sanctioned funds for the third master plan project last month. 

Source: The Times of India

Beautification work at OMR to start soon

Pedestrian plaza work on the 2-km stretch from Kasturba Nagar MRTS to SRP Tools, worth Rs 20 crore, will be kickstarted soon. As part of the project, Miyawaki forest, seating facilities, an informal amphitheatre and other beautification elements are being planned. A sewage treatment plant (STP) to treat the Buckingham Canal water was also included as part of the project, but the idea was later rejected due to various hurdles. 

However, the scope for having an STP has been retained in the plan and will be decided based on approvals secured later. According to officials, the temporary fix they have planned is to block the channels through which sewage flows into the canal.

Source: The Times of India

Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar