Owing to financial constraints, the Chennai Corporation has started relying entirely on grants, altering the existing financial pattern of funding for civic infrastructure projects.
So far, grants for civic infrastructure projects constitute around 30% of the estimate for a project. The Chennai Corporation has asked the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) to sanction a scheme with 100% grant for installation of 17,301 streetlights at ₹80.14 crore.
Earlier, TNUIFSL had sanctioned projects only in the financial pattern of 60% (loan), 30% (grant) and 10% (urban local body’s contribution).
For the past few months, residents have complained to the Corporation about poor streetlighting in roads including R.K. Shanmugam Salai, Anna Main Road and Lakshmanasamy Salai in K.K. Nagar and many stretches in Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur.
According to estimates by the civic body, at least 80,000 streetlights have to be improved. Officials said the proposal estimated at ₹145 crore was delayed as the civic body did not have funds.
Improvement of street lighting infrastructure with energy saving fittings in the remaining areas is expected to begin shortly.
The Corporation will have no burden of repayment of the entire amount spent for the streetlights.
Construction of ROB
Similarly, the civic body has requested for a grant for construction of Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Kolathur-Villivakkam LC-1 near Villivakkam Railway station. The project is estimated at ₹58.5 crore.
The proposal to construct a bridge in lieu of existing Level Crossing -1 (LC-1) connecting Kolathur Main Road on the Northern side and ICF Road on Southern side was initiated in 2003.
This project will be executed jointly on 50:50 cost sharing basis between the Railways and the Corporation.
The government has already sanctioned a grant for the similar project — an integrated ROB in lieu of existing LC No-2A at Ennore High Road and LC No.2B at Manali Road in ward 38 and 41 in Tondirpet zone.
