Some of the traffic islands and roundabouts in the city are sporting a greener look over the past few days as work had got underway on the city beautification initiative taken up on public-private partnership mode.
The Corporation has identified about 28 roundabouts and traffic islands which are to be developed in the city. Apart from carrying out landscaping works, other necessary infrastructure would also be created. Appropriate lighting arrangements are also planned.
Civil works have begun to clearly demarcate the traffic islands in some parts of the city. Simultaneously, lawns are also being developed at some of the islands with grass patches being laid in some of the traffic islands, including the ones near Thiruvanaikovil, the Head Post Office and Palakkarai.
The initiative comes in the wake of a series of meeting to discuss the city beautification initiative through public-private partnership. N.R.Sivapathi, Minister for School Education, Law, Youth Welfare and Sports, chaired a couple of meetings to discuss the modalities over the past few months and the initiative has been taken forward under the supervision of Collector Jayashree Muralidharan and Corporation Commissioner V.P.Thandapani.
The Corporation has identified banks, hospitals, hotels and other commercial establishments to develop and maintain the structures. Specific traffic islands and roundabouts have been earmarked for the private sponsors, depending on their choice of location. Among the roundabouts identified for development are the ones around the Chathram Bus Stand, Head Post Office, Railway Junction, Central Bus Stand and Cantonment. Traffic islands on the Tiruchi-Chennai Trunk Road, Karur By-pass Road, Madurai Road, Bharathidasan Road, Puthur, Thillai Nagar and Palakkarai have also been identified and allotted for development to sponsors.
According to Corporation sources, the traffic islands and roundabouts would be given to the private sponsors for a three-year period. They would be allowed to put up advertisements as per specifications. When contacted, Mr.Thandapani said the works have already commenced in many islands and the civic body was planning to complete the works by the end of this month.
