Arterial city roads such as Anna Salai, E.V.R. Periyar Salai, Kamarajar Salai and Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai will get a makeover ahead of the centenary celebrations of Ripon Buildings, later this year.
These stretches will be declared ‘Ripon Buildings centenary sanitary zones’ by the Corporation and are likely to be swept thrice a day.
The civic body has begun preparation of estimates for 10 such zones to be provided with superior solid waste management, aesthetics, health, sanitation and lighting facilities.
Also, buildings on these roads will be spruced up, damaged street furniture will be restored and bridges will get aesthetic lighting.
The civic body has asked other government agencies to paint buildings on the arterial stretches and improve the ambience as part of the centenary celebrations.
City roads are usually swept just once a day and most stretches have lost their aesthetic appeal to infrastructure works that are under way in various parts of the city.
“Many places along Anna Salai and E.V.R. Periyar Salai are in a bad shape because of Metro Rail work. We need their assistance to spruce up the stretches. The remaining areas can be cleaned up with support from other government agencies,” said a councillor of a ward covering a portion of Anna Salai.
Also, the 15 zonal officers of the Corporation have been asked to declare two roads in each zone litter-free.
The clean-up drive is expected to create publicity about the centenary celebrations among residents, boost civic sense and prevent people from littering roads.
The Corporation proposes to set a precedent for other parts of the city by sprucing up the 10 roads, footpaths, street furniture and buildings. Also, staff will be deployed to watch out for persons erecting illegal banners or hoardings and remove them immediately.
Meanwhile, work is on in full swing to restore Ripon Buildings in time for the centenary celebrations.
A number of sculptors are at work restoring the Indo-Saracenic structure. This is the first heritage building in the country to have received funds for restoration under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
