No water or sewer connections for a decade in Sholinganallur
It has been 10 years since the Sholinganallur Assembly Constituency was made part of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). But there has been a dearth of piped water and sewerage infrastructure in those areas to date.
Residents demanded immediate action on these issues and staged a protest in Thoraipakkam on 12th March.
The residents shared their concerns about the lack of water supply and sewerage in the IT Corridor, and how private tanker lorries are hampering the projects in this part of Chennai.
The protesting residents were provided assurance by the MLA that the sewer projects will be completed in Perungudi and Kandanchavady by April. Water supply connections have been provided for some areas in Sholinganallur and Injambakkam, confirmed officials.
Source: The Hindu
Amenities to improve traffic management in Chennai
The Greater Chennai Traffic Police Commissioner inaugurated new gadgets to be used to manage traffic in the city. This includes six speed display boards, 45 VMS (Variable Message System) boards, 139 traffic police umbrellas with scroll boards and 170 remote-controlled traffic signals.
VMS boards have been installed in 45 places across the city. Speed display boards have been set up in ECR, Anna Salai, EVR Salai, Kamarajar Salai and OMR. Traffic police umbrellas have come up in 139 places, where the scrolling boards will play road safety messages. In 170 junctions, remote-controlled traffic signals were placed for the police to discipline commuters who do not follow rules.
The total cost of these amenities is Rs. 4.21 crores.
Source: The New Indian Express
Read more: “Many people feel they don’t have to answer a woman”: Experience of a female traffic cop in Chennai
GCC’s gender lab fellows study safety in public spaces
The Citizens for Safe Mobility Fellowship, an initiative of the Gender and Policy Lab of GCC, with social organisations of Prajna and Safetipin, has been rolled out. It aims to look at safety in public spaces through a gender-inclusive lens. A total of 22 fellows have been selected for the fellowship – 8 men, 13 women and a trans person.
The fellows study existing infrastructure for three to four hours every day and cover major railway stations and bus depots. The fellowship which began on March 9th will end on March 24th, with the fellows presenting their findings to the officials.
Source: The Hindu
Feasibility study for rail track along Chennai Peripheral Ring Road
Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) is set to conduct a feasibility study to build a new railway track near the Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (CPRR). The rail track could help passenger and cargo transport and could be launched under the Chennai City Partnership scheme, funded by the World Bank.
The CPPR is under construction and will be 133 km long. The road will be managed by the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company. It will connect Ennore Port and Mahabalipuram, cutting across Thatchur, Tiruvallur, Sriperumbudur and Singaperumal Koil.
Source: DT Next
Read more: How to go about lake restoration: Learnings from efforts in Chennai
CMDA organises a competition for lake redevelopment
The top architectural firms in India have been invited to a competition to come up with redevelopment designs for 10 lakes in Chennai. This competition is organised by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).
Perumbakkam, Retteri, Mudichur, Madambakkam, Puzhal and Kolathur lakes among others have been chosen for redevelopment by CMDA and the Water Resources Department (WRD). The lakes chosen for this project have been deteriorating due to pollution, encroachment and other reasons.
The redeveloped lakes will have different features like walking paths and cycling tracks, open gyms, and bird-watching facilities, among other infrastructure. Apart from that, the project will also include water purification efforts and sewage treatments to restore the natural integrity of the lakes.
Source: The Times of India
[Compiled by Padmaja Jayaraman]