The city’s ambitious initiative to promote non-motorised transport, which includes laying bicycle tracks and making certain stretches ‘pedestrian only’, has had a slight setback.
An earlier proposal by the Chennai Corporation to make stretches such as Wallajah Road one-way streets to facilitate non-motorised transport infrastructure, has now been rejected by the traffic police.
The civic body has been asked to redesign its proposal to make it feasible with two-way traffic, and a new report will be submitted shortly, officials said. Making Wallajah Road a one-way would have significantly increased traffic congestion, traffic police said.
A review of the progress made for the promotion of non-motorised transport was held at a meeting chaired by the Corporation commissioner on Tuesday.
The development of infrastructure for non-motorised transport is part of the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority’s (CUMTA) projects.
Officials said that under the initiative, roads forming a loop around the Omandurar Government Estate, Mylapore Tank and some in T. Nagar, are likely to get infrastructure for non-motorised transport.
Pondy Bazaar is likely to be made partially ‘for pedestrians only’, after residents and commercial establishments agree with the proposal.
The civic body is likely to seek objections from residents shortly.
The Corporation is also set to identify more corridors for non-motorised transport, particularly around Metro Rail stations, with the support of the traffic police, Highways Department and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
In 2009, the Chennai Corporation had requested the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Ltd to comprehensively redevelop T. Nagar to ensure smooth traffic flow, integrate commercial activities and improve environmental quality. Most of the proposals for pedestrianisation in T.Nagar will be based on the study.
