Barriers on the footpaths along city roads will soon be removed to make room for pedestrians.
The Chennai Corporation Council on Thursday approved funds of Rs. 4.72 crore to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) for the removal and shifting of transformers and electrical cables that hamper pedestrian movement.
The shifting of electrical utilities from the footpaths along 36 key stretches including Pantheon Road, Police Commissioner Office Road, Rajaji Salai, Dr. Ambedkar College Road, New Vaidyanathan Street, Anna Nagar Fourth Avenue, Kavignar Barathidasan Salai and Mahalingapuram Main Road will be taken up shortly, a Corporation source said.
Works on footpaths have been delayed due to the Tangedco-owned barriers. The resolution is likely to speed up the process of completion of redesigned footpaths on 71 roads. Many of the stretches have been damaged because of traffic diversions in place for major infrastructure works such as Chennai Metro Rail.
The Corporation prepared estimates for the redesign and improvement of footpaths in 2012-2013. The civic body submitted the estimates to the State government and Rs. 102.34 crore has been approved under Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Fund (TURIF). The project covering roads in the zones of Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Teynampet, Anna Nagar, Kodambakkam, Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, Alandur and Adyar has been split into five packages.
A total of Rs. 25 crore has been released and the remaining funds will be released every quarter.
