Tambaram, the southern gateway to Chennai and an important rail and road hubs, deals with myriad problems. The state of the railway station with an evident lack of hygiene is one. Thanks to openly flowing sewage and irresponsibly dumped garbage, unhygienic conditions also prevail at facilities along the arterial Grand Southern Trunk Road.
However, with the municipal administration proposing to landscape and develop the vast open space below the road over bridge constructed at the intersections of GST Road, Velachery Main Road and Mudichur Road, things can be expected to look up. The Rs.78 crore bridge was completed in 2011 to replace the railway level crossing. The bridge, while improving connectivity between east and west Tambaram, was a bane to pedestrians and cyclists, especially school students and senior citizens. Mobile eateries and bars attached to liquor outlets on the service lane parallel to the main carriage way of GST Road added to the problems.
A positive outcome of the bridge was the construction of a proper covered cement concrete storm water drains, replacing the open drains transporting grey water and sewage from the market.
“Tambaram is the southern gateway to Chennai. Residents of Tambaram for long have been complaining about the nauseating conditions, prevalent for years. And we have decided to set right a few things,” said M. Karikalan, municipal chairman.
To start with, the municipal administration has shifted flower and garland shops, functioning for several years on GST Road to Mudichur Road, below the bridge.
Mud will be dumped on the vacant space below the bridge for its entire length of nearly 400 metres on GST Road. After a series of other preparatory exercises, the space will be laid with lawns and gardens.
The area will be cordoned off with stainless steel railings. Once completed, it will give the town the much needed facelift, Mr. Karikalan added.
