The delay in development of beach roads, owing to Coastal Regulation Zone restrictions, has forced residents of posh coastal localities to develop their own roads in such coastal residential neighbourhoods.
Following a demand by residents of Thiruvanmiyur, the Chennai Corporation has sought clearance from the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority to redevelop the Thiruvanmiyur Beach Road.
The Chennai Corporation has been unwilling to initiate new projects along beaches. However, following protests from a section of residents to develop roads along beaches, the civic body has decided to redevelop the Thiruvanmiyur beach road measuring over 600 metres in length after local residents demanded such redevelopment under the self-sufficiency scheme.
“The development of new roads measuring at least 3.5 km in Kottivakkam, Palavakkam and Neelangarai beaches has been delayed because of protests by residents. The self-sufficiency scheme is likely to lead to development of other beach roads once clearance is obtained from the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority,” said an official.
The State government re-introduced the self-sufficiency scheme in 2011-2012. Residents in neighbourhoods of the city have to contribute at least one third of the estimated cost of projects under the scheme. The Rs.55-crore beach beautification project in Kottivakkam, Palavakkam and Neelangarai may be shelved if the clearance is not obtained according to the provisions of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) II norms.
As part of the beach beautification project announced by the Chennai Corporation in the 2013-2014 budget, beaches in the recently developed areas such as Kottivakkam, Palavakkam and Neelankarai on East Coast Road were expected to get more roads, parking lots, play areas, walkways and landscaping. However, a section of residents objected to the development of new roads on the beach sands.
