The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government allocated funds for 71 bridges built by the Chennai Corporation in the past five years, said Mayor Saidai Duraisamy.
Speaking at a Corporation council meeting on Saturday, Mr. Duraisamy said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had allocated funds to the tune of Rs.294.28 crore for constructing bridges in the city.
Responding to allegations by Opposition parties about delay in construction of bridges in the city, Mr. Duraisamy said a chunk of the proposals for constructing bridges were made during the AIADMK regime.
Alleging that the AIADMK-led council was delaying projects, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) councillor Deva Jawahar said party leader M.K. Stalin had written to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in January 2015, appealing on behalf of residents of Kolathur for a rail overbridge near Level Crossing 1. “The Railway Minister replied that he was having the matter examined.
After examining it, the Southern Railway general manager replied on June 11 last year that the Corporation was yet to approve the bridge drawing,” said Mr. Jawahar.
Mr. Duraisamy claimed that feasibility studies for many projects, including the Jones Road subway at Saidapet, Alandur Road Bridge at Saidapet, Rangarajapuram flyover, subway on Monegar Choultry Road, Villivakkam subway and Cochrane basin railway overbridge, were done by the AIADMK-led government in 2001-2006.
Pointing to seven major bridge works completed during 2011-2016, Mr. Duraisamy said the DMK had spent Rs.38.2 crore in 2011 on seven ongoing projects at Mint, Villivakkam, Old Washermanpet, Rangarajapuram, MKB Nagar, Narasimha Nagar and Kathivakkam.
“After the AIADMK regained power in 2011, the government spent Rs.46.95 crore for completing the bridges,” said Mr. Duraisamy.
“Currently, our focus is on integrated flyovers instead of mini-flyovers. This is the reason for the delay,” said Mr. Duraisamy.
Study on integrated flyovers connecting Anna Salai with Mahalingapuram and Poonamallee High Road with Thirumalai Pillai Road is under way. Such projects are modified multiple times after public consultation, said Mr. Duraisamy.
1. Feasibility studies for many projects, including the Jones Road subway at Saidapet, Alandur Road Bridge at Saidapet, Rangarajapuram flyover, subway on Monegar Choultry Road, Villivakkam subway and Cochrane basin railway overbridge, were done by the AIADMK-led government in 2001-2006
2. After the AIADMK regained power in 2011, the government spent Rs.46.95 crore for completing the bridges
3. Study on integrated flyovers connecting Anna Salai with Mahalingapuram and Poonamallee High Road with Thirumalai Pillai Road is under way
