The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Fate of proposed escalator overbridges hangs in balance

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Monday, Apr 14, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Fate of proposed escalator overbridges hangs in balance

J. Malarvizhi

As a result of Supreme Court’s verdict on unauthorised hoardings

— Photo: K. Pichumani

Uncertainty: A foot overbridge with advertising boards overlooking Haddows Road, as seen on Saturday. The proposed foot overbridges with escalators might not be allowed to display advertisements, following the Supreme Court verdict on hoardings.

CHENNAI: The fate of escalator foot overbridges planned by the Chennai Corporation is uncertain following the Supreme Court’s verdict against unauthorised hoardings.

The facilities were proposed on a design-build-operate-transfer (DBOT) basis, where the private developer would have to regain expenditure on construction through revenue from advertising. Corporation officials said a decision would be taken on the matter shortly.

The Chennai police had earlier suggested 10 locations in the city where foot overbridges with escalators would prove useful.

The Corporation took up three on Anna Salai near SIET College, Todd Hunter Nagar and the Panagal Building and one on Taluk Office Road, Saidapet, floating tenders towards the end of 2007. Bids were received and the contractor finalised.

The project was then put on hold as the verdict of the Supreme Court was awaited on the case contesting a High Court judgment that upheld government rules of hoarding size and location. Now that the verdict has come, the local body would consider its implications.

The project could have to be recast as infrastructure the Chennai Corporation pays for, as opposed to a few projects proposed recently that it would profit from. The local body had announced the setting up of modernised bus stops with advertisement displays on a BOT basis and would shortly be letting out the outer walls of public conveniences for advertising. These projects would bring in additional revenue for the local body, officials had said.

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