Work on improving civic infrastructure along 25 roads frequented by VVIPs is under way.
While the effects of this exercise can be expected to be long-lasting, it will be serving a immediate purpose.
“Many dignitaries from other parts of the country are likely to visit Chennai for the swearing-in ceremony,” said a police official.
Footpaths being repaired
“During the December 2015 rains, many footpaths were broken open to drain the water. We are repairing such footpaths on roads where VVIPs may go. Work on footpaths, kerbs, street lights, flyover lighting, signage, traffic islands, roadside parks and pruning of trees along 25 roads are going on,” the official said.
Repair of broken stormwater drains, pruning of trees and fixing of gratings along Kamarajar Salai, Chamiers Road, Gandhi Mandapam Road, Swami Sivananda Salai, Walajah Road, Durgabai Deshmukh Road, TTK Road, DGS Dhinakaran Salai, Santhome High Road, Rajaji Salai, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai and General Patters Road are under way.
All the 25 roads are located in the central and southern regions of the Greater Chennai Corporation.
Some of the roads were damaged after civic body officials used heavy machinery to drain water from spots that experienced water stagnation during the recent rains.
As many as 196 spots in the city were waterlogged, the civic body officials said.
The Chennai Corporation employees had to break open stormwater drains, footpaths and kerbs to facilitate drainage of water.
Super sucker lorries were also used by Corporation staff to drain water.
Alternative routes
As part of the security arrangement for these dignitaries, a different route would be chalked out for each of them.
“The police will be asking for an alternative route for each dignitary,” said the official.
Many footpaths were broken open to drain out water during the floods last year
