Even as 1,000 unauthorised buildings are being razed down in areas such as Perambur, Sembium, Agaram, SRP Koil and Kolathur for road widening, the Chennai Corporation is planning to demolish 25 buildings near Ripon Buildings and Victoria Public Hall for the development of a park.
The Corporation Council is likely to take a decision this week on the demolition for development of a park covering an area of more than seven acres. The structures to be demolished near Ripon Buildings include shops, banks, public toilets, canteens and office buildings.
“Over 700 unauthorised buildings have been demolished in Perambur and Kolathur this week. This is the fastest drive for removing encroachments on roads so far. Yet another drive to widen the road by acquiring additional private property will be taken after preparation of a land plan schedule,” said an official of the Corporation.
Buildings have been demolished at a very quick rate during this drive. “We are demolishing structures on the same day of completion of survey. Revenue department officials have completed measurement of 90 per cent of the unauthorised buildings on Paper Mills Road,” said an official.
The other roads to be widened include Nelson Manickam Road, Santhome High Road, L.B. Road, Kalki Krishnamurthy Salai, Sardar Patel Road, Strahans Road, Perambur Barracks Road, Kaliamman Koil Street and Sembium Red Hills Road.
Over 4,000 tonnes of demolition debris have been removed so far. With intense demolition under way, more debris is likely to be generated. “We are exploring local sites for dumping debris,” said an official.
In November 2014, the Corporation Council had passed a resolution, identifying 1.12 lakh sq. m. of private land and a number of notified open spaces along 11 roads, for widening. After demolition of buildings, roads and parks will receive a makeover.
Changing the face of Chennai
On land & on water
- November 2014: Corporation Council identifies 1.12 lakh sq. m. of private land and a no. of notified open spaces along 11 roads, for widening
- 700+ unauthorised buildings have been demolished in the last two weeks in: Perambur, Sembium, Agaram, SRP Koil Kolathur on Paper Mills Road
- Over 4,000 tonnes of demolition debris have been removed so far. This is the fastest drive for removing encroachments
On water
- Water Resources Department is also in the middle of an eviction drive to clean city waterways. The projects were started in 2010 at a cost of nearly Rs.700 crore
- 100 structures are awaiting clearance along North Buckingham Canal. Eviction was dropped at the stretch of Central Buckingham canal owing to stiff opposition from 5,000 families
- Improvement works on Virugambakkam Arumbakkam canal was delayed due to 200 encroached structures at Muthu Irulandi Colony and West Namasivayapuram
- About 80 structures were cleared from Otteri Nullah
