OMR-ECR link work begins
In a bid to reduce bottlenecks along the key roads, the state highways department has begun construction work to connect Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and East Coast Road (ECR) at Thoraipakkam junction. The construction work, estimated to cost Rs 204 crore, will connect Neelankarai directly with Thoraipakkam. The work will be carried out in two phases.The first phase, a 760 m stretch from Thoraipakkam to Buckingham Canal is underway. The road from the other side of the canal and a bridge will be constructed in the second phase.
At present, OMR users use Lattice Bridge (LB) Road or Sholinganallur junction to reach ECR. LB Road being a narrow stretch, bottlenecks are unavoidable; two-wheelers often use interior roads that lead to roadblocks in residential neighbourhoods. Four-wheelers take a diversion along OMR, get stuck at signals in Thoraipakkam and Sholinganallur junctions to reach ECR.
Source: The Times of India
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Phase-2 metro tunnelling work to start in 2022
The tunnelling work for the underground metro phase-2 in Chennai is likely to begin in 2022. It is to be noted that the work in the elevated corridor has already begun in parts of Chennai with the Ponamallee to Power House stretch being prioritised.
If the deadlines are met, the Poonamallee-Power House stretch is expected to be completed in four years.
Two contracts for the underground stretch between Madhavaram to Taramani have been given to Tata Projects and Larsen and Toubro for constructing stations and tunnels. Topography studies are being carried out to evaluate the nature of the soil.
Source: The Hindu
Metrowater increases supply
With the city lakes having more than 70 per cent storage, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metro Water) has increased the water supply to more than 900 million litres per day (MLD). This move will also help identify if the pipeline network can transport large volumes of water.
On Thursday, the agency supplied 901.46 MLD to the city. Of this, 856.57 MLD was supplied to households and the rest to industries, bulk consumers and municipal supply.
Source: DT Next
Read more: Chennai will be a water abundant city in five years: Metro Water official
Suburban Police Commissionerate may be formed
With the city witnessing exponential growth and threat perceptions increasing for vital installations, the jurisdiction of the Greater Chennai Police is likely to be redrawn. A Suburban Police Commissionerate may be created with its headquarters in St. Thomas Mount, according to police sources.
It is to be noted that the DMK government had bifurcated the Police Commissionerate by forming Chennai Suburban Police in 2008. Three years later, when AIADMK-led the then CM Jayalalithaa assumed charge, the two forces were merged.
Apart from three police districts, namely, St. Thomas Mount, Ambattur and Madhavaram, the proposed plan could see the creation of two new police districts in Poonamalee and Tambaram.
Source: The Hindu
Read more: A day spent with cops in one of Chennai’s all women police stations
Corporation to build women’s hostel
The civic body will build a women’s hostel in the city using funds from the Nirbhaya scheme. Earlier this month, Chennai Corporation had cancelled the smart poles project under the Nirbhaya scheme due to irregularities. The Union government had sanctioned Rs 120 crore to implement the smart poles project, which will be used to build women’s hostels. The corporation is identifying locations. Upon finalising, designing and tendering would begin.
It is to be noted that this would be the first corporation run hostel for working women.
Source: DT Next
[Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar]